So you were counting sheep, how high did you get? 50, 500, or even higher! Amazing, were you a math major in college? Everybody deserves sleep, without it there is no hope of functioning properly. I'm going to share some tips for getting a good night's sleep, as I don't enjoy watching others suffer.
Sleep deprivation can drive the best of us into doing the dumbest of things. Pretty soon we're looking for any way we can to get some rest, regardless of what it does to us or how expensive it is. Don't fall into this trap, you're better than that.
Some people do fall into traps though, such as prescription (even over the counter) sleep medications. Do you sleep when taking these? Sort of, it's more like a comatose state in which you can't control your body if you need to. And then there is also the dependancy issue; what happens when you stop taking the medication? It's right back to where you were before... unable to sleep.
What are you going to do if there is an emergency in the middle of the night? The best you can probably manage is to flop out of bed and land face first on the floor. First of all, that's going to be painful in the morning, and second you're not going to be doing much good to anyone when you're stumbling around like a zombie. You need to stay in control of your body at all times.
That's why I suggest trying these five tips for getting a good night's sleep, naturally of course:
- Shower time! Taking a shower, or even better a bath, before bedtime is always a good idea. The heat will help relax your muscles and open your airways. It's better to take a bath because it's more relaxing, but if you're trying to save water, showers are perfectly fine - they accomplish the same thing.
- No Caffeine! Try warm milk. Or if you don't like warm milk you can just have regular milk. Milk contains Tryptophan, an essential amino acid that stimulates serotonin in the brain. Basically, milk helps you fall asleep. Even if you're drinking a "caffeine free" tea, there could be other herbs in it that keep you awake. So, I suggest sticking to milk.
- Temperature & Environment. The environment you sleep in has a lot to do with your success, or lack thereof, with getting sleeping. Are your sheets clean? Dirty sheets are scratchy and can contain an odor, even subconsciously this may be keeping you from sleeping. Make sure all the lights in your room are turned off. Try turning your AC down to just below comfortable level. I'm guessing that you have blankets on your bed, add and subtract them as needed. You're setting up the perfect "sleep environment."
- Stretching & Napping. No napping during the day. I don't care if it's the perfect time because the kids are in school, or if it just feels good. Napping kills your ability to fall asleep at night. So don't do it! If you feel yourself getting tired in the middle of the day eat a quick carbohydrate, exercise, or if you're lazy like me do some stretching. Stretching relaxes your body, but it can also keep you awake. Try doing it for several minutes at a time, stretch your arms, stomach, and legs. You'd be surprised at how much easier it is to move around afterwards.
- You could also try a method called binaural beats. Binaural beats are sound frequencies broadcast in a specific way to calm the brain and get it more relaxed. It was first discovered about 170 years ago, and then later refined into the process that we know today. There are different levels or "operating stages" for the brain, and the lower the stage the deeper the sleep, or relaxation. These sounds are much safer to use than sleeping pills or other medications because it doesn't knock you out. You're able to come up out of your sleep without a near hangover, and function in society. It's a slow process. It starts by relaxing your body so that it feels heavy, your conscious and subconscious mind begin to drift apart, feelings of anxiety and depression go away, and finally sleep.
Everyone has a different brain, so there is no one medication that can work for everyone. But the sounds can, if nothing else they will lull a person into a deep state of relaxation. The natural method is always better, much safer, and much cheaper than prescription medications.
These are my tips for getting a good night's sleep. I hope you put them to good use. Remember that it's ultimately up to you to decide if you sleep well or not.
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