Do you “Sleep Like A Baby”? Are you restless, or is it hard to get to sleep? Do you wake up and then can’t get back to sleep? Are your sleeping hours different every week?
I used to be a committed night-owl, and had very odd or varied hours of of sleeping, or not get enough sleep, with trying to catch up on other days. NO MORE! My circadian rhythm is settled into an effective mode, and it’s taken me a lifetime.
1. Get rid of all ambient light, use blackout drapes. Cover any blinking LEDs, power switches, displays.
2. Wear a comfortable sleep mask. I love the MINDFOLD, complete darkness with your eyes open, doesn’t mess your makeup.
3. Be active enough during the day to get tired. Bounce on sports ball for maximum benefits and minimal effort.
4. Take a hot epsom salts bath or shower before bed, or drink warm water, tea.
5. Don’t eat a lot before bedtime, bad for digestion, can lead to reflux.
6. Find a sleep position that works for you, use as many pillows as needed.
7. Only use your bedroom for sleeping & being intimate, not for watching TV.
8. Sleep at generally the SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT, 7-8 hrs for adults, 9-10 for youth.
9. Stretch your spine every day in 6 directions so your sleep alignment is balanced. CLICK for video demo
10. Take 30 minute (no longer than that) Power Naps, learn how to do progressive relaxation. Use as a mini-meditation, sitting up on a slant, NOT in your bed. CLICK for video demo How to Power Nap
All these tips will help your body feel more like laying still, and drop your Central Nervous System into PARA-sympathetic, which is the opposite of fight/flight. GOOD SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL for the Brain to cleanse itself. Literally, the Glymphatic system filters out debris during sleep.
I hope this helps you sort out your nighttime habits, and find an efficient way of getting effective REST. May you “Sleep Like A Baby” from now on!
