Unlock Restful Nights
Sleeping well is important to our physical and emotional well being. Getting adequate sleep allows our bodies to heal and replenish. Because sleep is so important, here are some tips to try if you struggle.
1. Develop a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Your body will thank you by going to sleep more easily.
2. Have a Relaxing Bedtime Ritual: Do something soothing before going to bed. Practice consistency. Read, take a warm bath, wash your face and brush your teeth. These activities will signal your body that it is time to sleep.
3. Make your Sleep Environment Comfortable: An ideal environment for rest is a comfortable bed, a cool room, quiet or relaxing sounds and darkness. Use your bedroom only for sleeping and sex.
4.Diet: Watch what you eat prior to going to bed. Avooid heavy or greasy foods that may cause heartburn. Avoid drinking too much a few hours before bed. Getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the nght sometimes leads to extended periods of sleeplessness. Avoid caffeine from the afternoon on.
5. Exercise: Get some exercise during the day so that your body is tired when it is time to go to bed. If you must exercise just prior to going to bed make sure it is relaxing and not overstimulating. Try doing some gentle stretches.
6. Cut out Naps: It is tempting to nap after a sleepless or low sleep night. Unfortunately, napping usually makes sleep issues worse instead of better.
7. Manage Stress and Anxiety: Stress is a sign of emotional strain or tension, while, anxiety is a feeling of dread, fear and uneasiness. Stress is the result of situational factors. Anxiety is a mental state that exists because of a mental state. Both issues rob people of sleep. Both issues can be managed by taking appropriate steps. Clear your mind of all worries and concerns. Focus on feeling compfortable in your body. Listen to a meditation on your phone. Try abdominal breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. Do some yoga or stretching prior to attempting sleep. Curbing your stress and/or anxiety will gi a long way toward attaining better rest.
8. Say no to noise and distraction: Sleep in a quiet dark, room. Stay away from computers, phones, ipads, etc ffor a few hours before going to bed. The blue light that comes from these devices will rob you of your sleep.
9. Expose yourself to Natural Daylight: Natural sunlight helps our bodies replenish Vitamin D which is essential to our well being. Natural light also keeps our body in tune with the daily and seasonal light fluctustions. Have you ever noticed wanting to sleep more in the winter when there is less light? That is because of our internal clock telling us that we should sleep when it is dark.
10. Essential oils: Essential oils can be instrumental in helping one fall asleep. Lavendar, Camomile, Cedarwood and Majoram all help with relaxation. There are blends specifically developed in order to help with sleep. Check your local healthfoods store to see what is available in your area. There are numerous ways of using essential oils. Perhaps the simplest is to mix them in with babyoil or unscented lotion and apply them to your body directly.
11. Seek Help: When all else fails concsult with a sleep professional. It is possible that sleep apnea is robbing you of your rest. There are other causes and solutions for insomnia that are beyond the scope of this blog.
Give some of these suggestions a try and see if you sleep more soundly! Happy snoozing.
Unlock Restful Nights
Sleeping well is important to our physical and emotional well being. Getting adequate sleep allows our bodies to heal and replenish. Because sleep is so important, here are some tips to try if you struggle.
1. Develop a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Your body will thank you by going to sleep more easily.
2. Have a Relaxing Bedtime Ritual: Do something soothing before going to bed. Practice consistency. Read, take a warm bath, wash your face and brush your teeth. These activities will signal your body that it is time to sleep.
3. Make your Sleep Environment Comfortable: An ideal environment for rest is a comfortable bed, a cool room, quiet or relaxing sounds and darkness. Use your bedroom only for sleeping and sex.
4.Diet: Watch what you eat prior to going to bed. Avooid heavy or greasy foods that may cause heartburn. Avoid drinking too much a few hours before bed. Getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the nght sometimes leads to extended periods of sleeplessness. Avoid caffeine from the afternoon on.
5. Exercise: Get some exercise during the day so that your body is tired when it is time to go to bed. If you must exercise just prior to going to bed make sure it is relaxing and not overstimulating. Try doing some gentle stretches.
6. Cut out Naps: It is tempting to nap after a sleepless or low sleep night. Unfortunately, napping usually makes sleep issues worse instead of better.
7. Manage Stress and Anxiety: Stress is a sign of emotional strain or tension, while, anxiety is a feeling of dread, fear and uneasiness. Stress is the result of situational factors. Anxiety is a mental state that exists because of a mental state. Both issues rob people of sleep. Both issues can be managed by taking appropriate steps. Clear your mind of all worries and concerns. Focus on feeling compfortable in your body. Listen to a meditation on your phone. Try abdominal breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. Do some yoga or stretching prior to attempting sleep. Curbing your stress and/or anxiety will gi a long way toward attaining better rest.
8. Say no to noise and distraction: Sleep in a quiet dark, room. Stay away from computers, phones, ipads, etc ffor a few hours before going to bed. The blue light that comes from these devices will rob you of your sleep.
9. Expose yourself to Natural Daylight: Natural sunlight helps our bodies replenish Vitamin D which is essential to our well being. Natural light also keeps our body in tune with the daily and seasonal light fluctustions. Have you ever noticed wanting to sleep more in the winter when there is less light? That is because of our internal clock telling us that we should sleep when it is dark.
10. Essential oils: Essential oils can be instrumental in helping one fall asleep. Lavendar, Camomile, Cedarwood and Majoram all help with relaxation. There are blends specifically developed in order to help with sleep. Check your local healthfoods store to see what is available in your area. There are numerous ways of using essential oils. Perhaps the simplest is to mix them in with babyoil or unscented lotion and apply them to your body directly.
11. Seek Help: When all else fails concsult with a sleep professional. It is possible that sleep apnea is robbing you of your rest. There are other causes and solutions for insomnia that are beyond the scope of this blog.
Give some of these suggestions a try and see if you sleep more soundly! Happy snoozing.