Healthday News reports that the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently conducted a poll among people who suffer from regular bouts of insomnia, finding that too much stress or too much TV, caffeine or exercise right before bed can contribute significantly to insufficient sleep.

The NSF poll found that 47 percent of people who don’t get enough sleep consume caffeine or other stimulants to combat daytime drowsiness, which in turn keeps them awake at night and perpetuates the cycle.

Stress is also a major factor, with a large number of insomnia sufferers worrying about stress factors while they lie in bed. Much like caffeine, the vicious cycle of stress can keep people from getting the sleep they need, which can lead to a diminished capacity to cope with stress during the day.

Experts say that kicking bad habits right before bed can help, but developing a calming routine before bed can boost the effectiveness of any plan. Meditation is recommended as is removing TVs and computers from the bedroom.

The use of herbal supplements like Kava-Kava and St. John’s Wort can be helpful in combating stress, and they are not habit forming like prescription sleep aids. Melatonin pills can also be useful for regulating stress and safely promoting healthy sleeping habits.