Sleep problems can occur for all sorts of reasons.

Maybe you're away from home and the bed you're sleeping in is unfamiliar. Maybe there's some extra noises in the background - or maybe there are less noises. Or it could be that there are some other, deeper reasons that prevent you from getting a good night's sleep.

Opinions vary on how much sleep we need. But you can't get away with little or no sleep for any length of time.

Here are some ways to help sleep problems:

1. Stay off the caffeine

Caffeine in the form of coffee or soft drinks can keep you awake. Check the ingredients on any pain killers you are taking as they can also contain caffeine. Make your last "hit" of caffeine earlier in the day, to give it time to work through your system.

2. Let your brain unwind

If your brain is too active when you try to go to sleep, it will carry on working despite any attempts you make to stop it. Give your brain chance to work through whatever it was working on.

3. Avoid that late night snack

Eating late at night can disrupt your sleep patterns. Give whatever you've eaten time to digest - this will also give your body a better chance to repair itself (which it does overnight) as it won't be working on the contents of your last meal as well.

4. Make bedtime a habit

Our bodies are used to routine. If you go to bed at 9pm one night, 2am the next night and 11.30pm the night after, your body will get confused. Make the time you go to bed as much of a habit as possible so that your body knows that it's time to sleep.

5. Have a nice, relaxing bath

Taking a bath shortly before you go to sleep can help with your relaxation routine.

6. Don't stay up worrying about not being able to sleep

OK, this can be easier said than done. But if you've often laid in your bed with your mind frantically asking "why can't I get to sleep" this is counterproductive. If this happens to you often, you need to change your habits. Find something that relaxes you (or even something that bores you to sleep!) and use that to help induce a sleep state. Oftentimes a relaxing piece of music or a good book will help.

7. Dim the lights

If your bedroom curtains let in too much light, that may confuse your body into thinking it's not actually time to be asleep. Get heavier curtains or use a second set of curtains to help make the room darker.

8. Turn down the temperature

If your room is too hot, chances are that you'll have trouble sleeping. Turn down the thermostat or open a window. Whatever it takes to cool down your room and help your body to get to sleep.

9. Practice breathing

This one sounds daft but if you start to take longer and deeper breaths your body will start to get the idea that it needs to sleep. Yawn a few times as well, just for good measure!

If you regularly can't sleep or wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, check out this get back to sleep with hypnosis article. Hypnosis can help relax your body and will almost certainly help with your sleep problems.

About the Author: For more articles by Trevor Johnson visit http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson.