Insomnia is a phenomenon almost everybody experiences at some point in their life. It is defined as difficulty falling asleep, despite being tired. or waking up after falling asleep. Combatting insomnia may be easier than you think. Here are some simple ways to fall asleep faster and stay asleep all night.
Turn off your phone
In today’s society, we are almost surgically attached to our phones, iPads, laptops, etc. And while the devices keep us informed and connected, they are also harm us when it comes to our sleep. Smartphones and other gadgets emit blue wavelengths. These wavelengths suppress the production of melatonin in our bodies. Melatonin is a natural hormone that makes you feel sleepy. Also, the light given off by your devices can actually stimulate the mind, thus causing poor sleep. Buy a regular alarm clock and turn off the phone.
Keep a sleep schedule
Sleep is just as important to proper health as eating healthy-wholesome foods. Make sleep a priority. Make a sleep schedule and do your best to stick to it. Lack of sleep has been proven to increase blood pressure, depression, weight gain and stress. Once you set your sleep schedule, your body will react favorably.
Meditation
Meditation helps you cope better by telling your sympathetic nervous system to relax. When the thoughts come in, you should acknowledge but not dwell on them. There are many different types of meditation. For beginners, guided meditation tends to work best.
Bedtime Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that combines physical exercise, mental clarity, and spiritual beliefs in a single discipline. Utilizing simple, bedtime yoga can signal to your brain that slumber time is approaching. Poses such as forward bends, happy baby pose, cross-legged bends, and corpse pose all have been shown to help the body prepare for restful sleep.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture works with your own body to help bring it back into balance. Acupuncture needles are strategically placed to help calm the mind, balance hormones, and settle the nervous system. Most people will notice some change after just one treatment, but to experience the full effect and truly eliminate insomnia, you should commit to a course of treatment.
Herbs
Many people find herbs can help them get better sleep. A differential diagnosis is made to determine the best herbs and an individualized herbal formula will be created. They can be used as a supplement to existing medications or alone to increase the amount and productivity of sleep.
Give these methods a try and then focus on the ones that resonate with you. Over time, your body and mind will thank you and there won’t be any harsh side effects… just good sound sleep. Sweet dreams!
