Stress Keeping You Awake at Night?
By Nicky VanValkenburgh
If you find yourself tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep, here are nine practical suggestions:
(1) Get comfortable! If it's hot, turn on your air conditioner, open a window or turn on the ceiling fan. If your room is too cold, adjust the thermostat, get an extra blanket or put on a long sleeve shirt.
(2) Drink some "Sleepy Time" tea. You can get it at the grocery store, look for Celestial Seasonings. If you want to sweeten it, add some honey. Another good one to try is "Tension Tamer" tea.
(3) Don't stay in bed. If you have difficult falling asleep, get up and find something to do until you begin to feel tired. You might watch some TV, unload the dishwasher, fold your laundry, write a letter, or read a book. Perhaps you could grab a blanket, and listen to a relaxation CD on the couch. Eventually, you will feel tired and can go back to bed.
(4) If you're hungry, eat some fruit. This should satisfy you, and hold you over until morning. Eating cookies or a sandwich may be too heavy for your stomach at night. Ideally, you want to eat something light so that your stomach and intestines can rest, rather than go to work on digesting and processing a heavy meal. At night, avoid food that is spicy, fatty or hard-to-digest.
(5) Avoid tobacco and alcohol. Nicotine is a stimulant and can interfere with sleep. Drinking beer or a glass of wine may make it easier to settle down, but it can also keep you awake and wound up.
(6) Do a short progressive relaxation exercise. Relax every muscle in your body, from your head to your feet.
(7) Say a prayer! If you're troubled, remember that God is bigger than your problems. The Creator of heaven and earth can turn your situation around. Say a little prayer, and ask him to guide you and give you wisdom about how to handle things. If you've made a mistake, ask God to forgive you and help you to make things right.
(8) Write it down! Grab a notebook or pad of paper and start writing. If your mind is chattering, write your thoughts, feelings and ideas down on a sheet of paper. There is something incredibly cathartic about getting things out of your head and onto paper. It helps you to let go and release your feelings. Also, writing is an act of self-expression.
(9) Make a list! Are you worried about all the things you need to do tomorrow? Write out your "To Do" list. Organizing your thoughts and putting them down on paper is your ticket to freedom.... and a good night's sleep!
Hmm, you've probably heard these things before, but it's a good review, isn't it? Remember that it's best for your brain to associate your bed with sleep, not activity. That's why it is not a good idea to study, read or write in bed. These activities can get you wound up rather than settled down. Before you know it, you'll be catching some zzz's.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Writer Nicky Vanvalkenburgh invites you to discover the six myths about stress, plus seven "turn-ons" for the brain in our free e-books. Check it out at http://www.20minutestolessstress.com/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Relieve Stress
Your Final Breakthrough uses the latest discoveries in the sciences of sound, psychology, and superlearning to create a completely new, totally safe, and thoroughly effective “psychotechnology” that reprograms your subconscious in positive ways to achieve the goals you seek.
Bring more relaxed attitudes to everything you do. Learn more about this program at http://nightingale.directtrack.com/z/11467/CD1323/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
