Do you sometimes lie awake wondering when your going to get to sleep? Do you want to know what to do to get to sleep better? Well here are some tips I have put together from stuff I learned in random places and some stuff I got from a book called every day dream interpreted. I hope you learn a few things and if you have any tips of your own please tell me in my blog or at contact[at]braindeadd.info.
Relax. Firstly you need to relax. Take some deep breaths and just try to think of sleepy thoughts and happy ones too. One thing that doesn't work, at least for most people is counting sheep. This will get your brain working much more than it should at sleepy time.
Food to eat. Want something to eat? Well two really good things for getting you sleepy are milk and potatoes. Yes, it's true baked potatoes have something in them that makes you sleepy although I have never had baked a potatoe right before bed. Warm milk is good to drink about 15 minutes before bed because this has calcium which makes you sleepier, but remember that cold milk doesn't work. Other foods like egg, cottage cheese, chicken, turkey and cashews also help to get to sleep. Remember not to go to bed hungry, don't eat a bag of chips or something big just a light snack.
Tv. Many of you will be very surprised to know that's it's a proven fact that watching tv doesn't actually make you tired, it does the opposite. Some people say it makes them sleepy but I do find that if I watch tv for 2 or more hours then I can't get to sleep quite as well. I'm not saying not to do it but I just want you to know that it actually won't help.
Music/Noise. This is a great thing to do if you can't get to sleep. Listen to csome nice, calm music, no heavy metal! Unless this actually relaxes you, lol. I used to this when I was around 8 or 9 and it worked well. In the summer I sometimes have a fan in my room because I live in a townhouse with no air conditioning. I find this fan noise actually makes me sleep better but if I stop using it for a few days I get used to no noise, but if it works for you then go for it.
When. It is hard but best to have a fixed time for going to bed. This way your body will know when it's going to sleep and for some reason it likes that. I know it's very hard to do this but it's very good because once your in this routine your body will know when it's bedtime and you will start to wind down.
Get up! In the morning when it's time to get up don't just lay there thinking about it. Get up! I actually do this and after awhile you get used to it and you just gets up automatically. One thing I actually do sometimes is when you need to get up in the morning or when your stuck in front of the tv keep thinking of getting up. Just keep thinking about it visualizing yourself getting up and I find this works for me quite well.
Temperature. Yes, temperature does play a fairly big role in your sleeping. You should keep you bedroom between 60 and 65 degrees. This is because when it's hotter you tend to toss and turn more. As well as that, I read that when it's hotter in your room there is more chance of you having a nightmare.
Exercise. Someone who works during the day doing physical work get to sleep better than people who work in the office because they are exercising. Even just 15 minutes a day of some good exercise will be enough for your body to sleep better at night. Remember after you exercise, to allow at least half an hour until you go to bed, it could be better to allow much more time depending on the exercise.
I can't stop thinking of stuff. This happens with me too and I think it's quite common. You know when your just laying in bed thinking of stuff and then you start thinking of the fact that you can't get to sleep. This has to do a lot with just relaxing. First try taking deep breath, relaxing your muscles, and think of something boring. I heard this trick where instead of counting sheep (which is stimulating since your counting hyperactive sheep) you picture a meadow going on forever. This meadow has sleeping sheep on it and your on top just hovering over them, but I think you just as easily picture something else boring.
Still can't sleep. If you still can't get to sleep after about 30 minutes then don't lie in bed. Get up and do something quiet and non stimulating. You should get you and your body associating your bed with sleeping. This means that it would be better to read, watch tv, or do whatever else you do in the evening somewhere other than your bed.
Try to take these tips seriously and try some out. Remember that if you don't sleep well that's perfectly normal. if you think your lack of sleep is too much and you might have a sleep disorder you can check this site sleepnet where you can take a simple test and get some more tips.
<-- Sidebar -->
