Have you been losing sleep? Waking up tired? Not falling asleep at all? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might be suffering from insommia
The good news is, you are not alone. In today's hectic society, insomnia is a highly common result of stress. Other factors include over-consumption of caffeine and irregular sleep patterns. The quickest method of getting you all drowsy is to reach for sleeping pills. but the truth is, sleeping pills do not lead to genuine, restful sleep. There is also the danger of you becoming dependent on and addicted to them. This is because your body develops a tolerance after the first couple of weeks and the pills become less effective. So you would have to start popping more of the pills to get the same effect. And we all know what an overdose of sleeping pills could lead to. So what should you do if you are sleep-deprived? We recommend these natural relaxation methods.
Aromatheraphy
Adding a few drops of relaxation oils such as orange blossom, jasmine and meadowsweet into your warm bath could work wonders. The relaxing properties of the oils dispel tension and lull you into a calm state. No bathtub? Simply heat the oils in a ring burner or light scented aromatheraphic candles in your room. This also has the spin-off benefit of scenting your room. Or put a few drops of oil into your pillowcase.
Limit Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is not only found in that cup of coffee you had at Starbucks or the ice blended tea. Watch out for this "stay awake" substance in seemingly innocent stuff like green tea, chocolates and sodas.
Avoid cigarettes and alcohol
Apart from the obvious health threats to your body, nicotine and alcohol are stimulants that lead to poor sleep.
Not all teas are equal
While black and green tea is bad for insomnia, herbal teas are good and naturally relaxing. Such teas include those made from hops, passionflower, chamomile and valerian.
Pare down distractions
Make your bedroom 'sleep-friendly' by removing the TV and radio from it. If you can, insulate your room against light and noise, and keep it at a comfortable temperature.
Clockwork routine
Keep to a regular sleeping schedule and avoid taking catnaps in the day. Going to bed at the same time every night helps to train your body to recognise bedtime.
Say no to 'energising' activities
Bedtime is no time for exercising or watching a horror show on TV. These activities will energise you and set you brain into hyper-drive, keeping sleep at bay.
Do something else
If you still cannot sleep after an hour of tossing and turning, get up from your bed and do something else. Read a book, walk around the house for a while or simply browse through the photo album.
Try some New Age music
'Meditation music' with soothing and slower tempos could help you to relax and fall asleep. But keep it soft, please!
Not being able to sleep well can be a drag - you would not want to be nodding off in class or work the next day, would you? Let's hope that these methods will help you to sleep soundly every night. However, if insomnia continues to plague you, consult a doctor about it.
Labels: aromatheraphy, battling insomnia, caffeine intake, dependent on drugs, distractions, insomnia, irregular sleep patterns, losing sleep, New Age music, routine, sleeping pills, stress
