SLEEP!

workoutqueen628

Hey guys, so I need some advice on how to ensure that I get a good night's sleep. Lately I have been having trouble sleeping because I worry about a lot of stuff once my head hits the pillow. I have a job that requires me to get up early and I always worry I won't wake up in time, which leads me to not get a good night's sleep. It's like when I think about needing to get sleep, I can't fall asleep! Any tips on how to eliminate this problem?? I hate being sleep deprived. It really effects my productivity level and makes it hard to exercise when I have no energy.

Chenoachem

I have heard doing yoga or taking a bath before bed can calm your mind. I have also heard setting two alarms 5 minutes apart, will help you rest without worrying about getting up.

Good Luck.

tater8589

I found some drops to put in my water at a local health food store. I can't remember the name, but its called Deep Stress and is herbal. In really cold water its almost not tatsteable, but warm water you can taste it.. and you don't want to mix it with juice (Yuck, I tried) Hope this helps. I also set 3 alarms with different tones on my cell phone, helps me know I will hear one of them

elainegsd

Oh MAN does this sound familiar! There are a few things that help me. First, having a bedtime ritual to signal your body to prepare for sleep. This can be a warm shower or bath followed by reading for 30 minutes with a cup of chamomile tea, or whatever seems reasonable in your situation. Do the same thing for approximately the same length of time each night, before getting into bed.

Once you are in bed, work on clearing your mind. Relax the different parts of your body, one by one, starting with your toes. Focus on each area and work on making that area as relaxed as you can.By the time you get up to your shoulders/neck, you should be pretty relaxed.

If you wake up during the night, or if it takes you more than about 20 minutes to fall asleep, get out of bed and do something low-key and non-stimulating. When you feel sleepy, try going back to bed and see how you do.

I go through cycles of sleeplessness on a regular basis, but find going back to these basics can get me back on track and sleeping through the night for a while. Good luck, being tired is NO fun at all.

patio1313

I try to get a little exercise about an hour or two before bed and then do about 15-20 of meditation/relaxation exercises before bed.

Luckymam

Have you tried 5HTP (Hydroxy Tryptophan) capsules from a health food store? It contains tryptophan which helps you sleep.

rmkorama

If I'm having trouble turning my mind off at night, I try listening to music. Focusing on the music instead of my thoughts helps to slow things enough for sleep. Similarly, practice turning your brain off. It does take practice and time to do, but every time your mind begins thinking about something that's worrisome, make yourself think about something else, something more soothing. Try visualization, like imagining yourself somewhere peaceful and relaxing, like lying in the grass under a tree on a sunny day or something.

Anothing thing I do is try focuing on something that I'm putting off. This may only work for procrastinators, but if I start really concentrating about something I'm trying to avoid, it puts me out like a light.

nehtaeh

They say that melatonin helps, and is natural. It did help me to fall asleep, but interupted my sleep during the night. I don't have a problem falling asleep so I can't take it. I've heard many people have success with it though.

elainegsd

They say that melatonin helps, and is natural. It did help me to fall asleep, but interupted my sleep during the night. I don't have a problem falling asleep so I can't take it. I've heard many people have success with it though.

Just a reminder, arsenic is also natural, but I wouldn't want to take it. Just because it is natural doesn't mean it is safe for consumption. I think melatonin is probably safe, but I keep seeing references on MFP to things being safe just because they are natural. That isn't always the case. (Sorry Shannon, I'm not trying to single you out...)