Struggling with insomnia? Try these 3 exercises for better sleep

YOU lie in bed. The clock ticks. Your mind races. It’s another night when sleep feels unreachable, and you know tomorrow will drag. If this feels familiar, you're not alone.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

NEW evidence suggests gentle exercise like yoga and tai chi might be just what you need.

(Pexels)

Insomnia impacts millions, stealing rest, focus and even sanity. But new research shows that you might not need pills or a strict bedtime to finally start sleeping better.

Sometimes, gentle movement could be the lifeline you need.

Insomnia isn’t just about being tired. It’s about life’s edges fraying, the irritability, the foggy thinking, the dread of tomorrow. Clinically, insomnia is diagnosed when someone can’t fall asleep, or stays awake in the night, at least three times a week for three months or more.

It’s usually triggered by stress, anxiety, or habits like screen time late at night or inconsistent schedules.

Sometimes it’s tied to chronic pain or other medical conditions. Traditional treatments include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which many sleep specialists recommend as the first-choice option.

Studies show CBT-I works as well as sleeping pills in the short term and often better in the long run.

But here’s the problem: while CBT-I is effective, it isn’t always available for everyone. It takes time, resources, and trained therapists. This limitation has prompted researchers to search for accessible, non-drug tools that can ease insomnia and possibly help you sleep tonight.