The bills pile up, the funds run low, your workload has increased, your children are involved in a million activities, and life just does not seem to slow down. Face it - stress is all around you. And as a result, you are having trouble sleeping, aren't you?

With all of the chaos in your life, why add to it by constantly suffering through insomnia and feeling drained all of the time? There are ways to work through your restlessness, and settle into bed with ease. There is so much truth to that old saying 'sleep it off'. So let's give it a try.

Start writing down all of the things that you consider to be stressors in your life. After you are finished you might want to number them accordingly so you can see what is causing you the most anxiety. Work on that number one thing on your list, and then tear up that list and throw it away.

The minute you feel drowsy at night, do not fight the urge. In times of stress, we often want to stay awake longer, in order to obsess about the things that are causing us worry. Or perhaps you want to resist the sleepy feeling because you feel like things are not going to get done if you fall asleep. But consider that they will be prolonged even more if you feel out of whack and groggy the next day due to lack of sleep. Nip that in the bud before it becomes a problem.

Take the time to discover things that have the ability to calm you down. Maybe it is sitting on the couch and watching your favorite movie. Or perhaps knitting takes your mind off things and is quite relaxing. Or even books, baths or writing suit your fancy. Make a commitment to yourself that you will do these activities in the evening, and then go to sleep immediately after. Bargaining with yourself can be quite useful in overcoming stress, and the consequent insomnia.

When you are stressed, since your mind is racing and you have so much nervous energy, it might be a good idea to put that to use. If you really feel the urge to do something, create a restful environment to avoid your insomnia. Dress the bed in soft linen, pile up the pillows, fill the air with sensational aromas, close the drapes and dress yourself in comfortable pajamas. After all this, you will have let some of that anxiety go, and will be ready to sleep through the night, forgetting your worries for the next eight hours.

Another good thing to do would be to talk about it. Find a friend who you can really count on and either tell them about what is stressing you, or have a lovely exchange about the goings on in each other's lives. Do this in the evening so you can completely unwind at the end of the day. After discussing your stressors, you will more than likely be mentally exhausted and ready to settle in for some sleep. Insomnia will never be a problem for you again when stress strikes.