Having Trouble Sleeping Lately?
You're not alone; thousands of people in this country and millions around the world suffer from some type of sleeping disorder. Common causes stem from eating, smoking and drinking habits, as well as other lifestyle choices; drugs and medications; and health issues such as sleep apnea, depression and stress.
Some of the aggravating causes of your inability to calm your mind when you want to sleep may be related to your bedtime habits, such as:
Watching unsettling programs/news before bedtime
Working until close to bedtime
Eating heavy meals too close to bedtime
Doing any other stressful or stimulating activity right before bed, such as exercising, paying bills, etc
Therefore, to increase your chances of a good night of sleep, observe your night time habits and determine if any of them should be dropped or modified. Here are some suggestions:
Have your evening meals at least 2-3 hours of digestion time before going to bed; 4-5 hours is best
Eat light meals in the evening
Write down a list of the things that are troubling you and/or the things you have do the next day before going to bed, and tell yourself that you will deal with them the next day; that way you won't be thinking about them and making mental lists while you are trying to go to sleep
Try natural sleep aids such as a taking warm bath; drinking chamomile or Sleepy Time tea (but not too close to bed time, as teas usually function as diuretics); quiet, inspirational reading; meditation; breathing techniques; lavender drops on your wrists (this aroma is supposed to be calming and help induce sleep), etc
Another effective option to deal with sleep trouble is Hypnotherapy, a therapeutic method of healing by using hypnosis. Hypnosis is a trance or altered state of consciousness that's between waking and sleep, and is characterized by increased suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. Whether helping you manage stress, cope with depression or simply direct the subconscious to relax and sleep well, hypnosis is a powerful tool in to consider if you are looking to have a great night of sleep.
© Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 06/02/2014
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
Comments