Sleep Better, Feel Better

It has happened to the best of us. You’re lying in bed staring at the ceiling. You have to be up in six hours, but you just can’t seem to fall asleep. Here are a few tips that can help.

Take a hot bath before going to bed

What better way to relax your body than a nice hot bath. Once the kids are in bed, light a lavender or vanilla candle and just lay back and relax. Don’t think about the stress of your job, finances, or any other problems. Just concentrate on relaxing your body and mind.

Be consistent.

If you go to bed at the same time and wake up the same time every morning you will find that eventually, at your bed time, you will be too tired to stay awake. You may also find yourself waking up a few minutes before the alarm or you won’t sleep to long past the time you need to get up, if you don’t set an alarm. This means your body is getting used to this and is nadjusting to your new sleep habits.

Avoid any work related stress several hours before bed

If you work outside of your home, it is best to leave your job at work. When you bring it home and think about it all night, you are not going to get a good night sleep. If you work in your home, it is best to turn off your computer a couple of hours before you go to bed. With any job, you need time to wind down before trying to fall asleep.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Alcohol and caffeine are stimulants. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it will not be a restful sleep. You make wake up several times in the night feeling dizzy or dehydrated. Caffeine is primarily used to wake people up. This would include coffee, tea, or soda. Drinking caffeine before bed will prevent you from being able to relax and fall asleep. Other things to avoid nbefore bed would be cigarettes or energy drinks.

Eat the Right Foods

If you were ever given warm milk before bed, then you had a smart mom! Dairy foods are as good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body converts to melatonin and serotonin, both of which help you sleep. Other foods that would be good before bed are yogurt with granola or oatmeal. You nwant to avoid spicy foods, especially if you tend to get heartbur

Listen to white noise

For some people, listening to rain or the sound of a creek helps them sleep. Basically, white noise works by muffling the sounds that you would normally hear with a sound that is soothing and calming. This enables your body and mind to relax and eventually fall asleep.

When you don’t get enough sleep, it affects your daily performance. You just don’t have enough energy to do what you need to do. It can also cause accidents or affect your relationships. Try some of the things I mentioned nabove. If nothing else works, you may need to talk to your doctor. It may be a serious sleep disorder.