Sleeping Tips
Sleep is fundamentally needed in all living animals for survival. Getting a restful sleep needs to be a priority!
We all want to sleep right? Yet, most of us struggleeeeeee with it. Maybe it’s the restless nights, the nightmares, the ruminations, the sadness that keeps you up. Whatever the cause, it’s safe to say that it’s annoying and distressing to constantly struggle with getting a good nights sleep.
Why is sleep so important anyway? Well first, if you’re not sleeping well, your ability to manage your daily emotions is reduced (think more anxiety-yikes!). Then, because you’re not managing those emotions, you’re ruminations increase when things get quiet (yup sleep time). Annnd here you have it, a vicious, vicious cycle. Second, sleep helps you regulate your hormones, digestion, energy levels, immunity and so much more. Not to mention, sleep allows you to consolidate the information from your day and neatly store them away into your memory compartments. Did I convince you yet that sleep is important? I hope so!
So what are we to do? Here are some basic tips:
How cold/warm is your house? Ideally, we want it at 70 temp.
What does your room feel/look like? Is it cluttered? Dark enough? Only using your bed for sleep (and sex)? Are your pillows actually comfy? The state of your room is important to getting that restful sleep!
Sorry friends - No screens 1 hour before sleep. Start a new habit that actually relaxes you
Ideally no eating 1-2 hours before bed.
Getting enough natural melatonin in your foods (think cherries, pineapples etc) or increasing your magnesium intake.
Having a notepad on your night table to write down any thoughts that are preventing you from relaxing.
Listening to relaxing music or meditation scripts
Deep breathing exercises like progressive muscle relaxation
If none of these tips help after one month then reaching out to a therapist/naturopath could be helpful in figuring out the root cause especially If it is anxiety/trauma related. You may also want to be referred to a sleep study to rule out any conditions like sleep apnea.
Happy Sleeping!
