SLEEP

Having trouble sleeping at night?

* put a pillow on your stomach while laying on your back. There is
something magical about the weight of the pillow on your stomach. It
relaxes your whole nervous system. Now here's the silly part but it
works....


* gently press your left nostril closed and breath through your right
nostril. This calms your entire body by accessing the right hemisphere
of your brain which is relaxing. You can do this laying on your right
side too if you're a side sleeper.


*avoid both your computer and your cell phone 90 minutes before
bedtime. It's been proven that these devices are stimulating to your
brain and activate the brain's stress system.
Rather than turning on you computer in the middle of the night.
It's better to read a book for a bit.


* Have a bedtime routine. I do the same each night before bed; take
vitamins, wash my face, brush and floss, prepare my coffee or tea for
the morning, and hang up my clothes before bed every single
night. It's my routine and my body starts to relax into it knowing
that we're heading to sleep.


* Avoid TV in the bedroom. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the
electromagnetics as well as the light, sound and stimulation is the
worst possible thing you can do for your night's sleep. On a side
note...it's not the greatest thing for your love life either. ;-)



*Chamomile, Valerian, Catnip or if it's legal in your state, California Poppy teas are all extremely relaxing.


* Turn your heat down, crack a window and keep your room on the chilly
side. Needing to stay warm under the weight of the blankets often
ensures a sound night's sleep.

*If you are feeling stressed or can't stop thinking, write down what is
on your mind or what you think you need to take care of in the
morning. This simple act of writing something down will let your
thinking mind relax and be assured that nothing will be forgotten in
the morning.



Hopefully, reading this has put you in a sleepy state....