All Night Sleep - The Cornerstone of Good Health

One of the cornerstones of good health is that of adequate and restful sleep. Many people are fortunate, not to have problems sleeping but for others who regularly toss and turn at night, insomnia is a huge recurring problem. It need not be so.


There are many things that you can do to aid sleep, here are just a few:
Ensure the basics are covered, is the bed comfortable, make sure you are not too hot or cold and especially make sure your feet are warm. Feet usually get cold first and can then wake you up.


Embrace the dark, with thick blinds or curtains or even cheaper an eye mask. Sudden changes of light can wake a light sleeper, so if your bedroom windows are near a road and prone to traffic get your eye mask ready and ear plugs if noise is a problem.


Make sure you have a regular bedroom routine, which promotes relaxation, so out goes the strenuous exercise and cups of coffee just before bed. If you must have a hot drink, think hot milk or herbal tea, caffeine is a well known stimulant as the body takes a while to process it, near bedtime is not advised.


A bath and relaxing music can get you in the mood for a deep refreshing sleep. The body likes routine, so regular bedtimes can help promote sleep if you can arrange your schedule.


Finally, worry is one of the major reasons for disturbed sleep; coping with stress can leave the body tense and your brain fretting over your problems while you are desperate for sleep.


To help with this, talk over your problems with someone else, if you don't wish to with a friend or family member; try a helpline which is anonymous. Sometimes talking about your fears out loud can help you sort through things and get it in perspective. A quick solution is to write down your problem/worry and burn the paper, symbolizing a quick solution, it also is a great visual aid to go to sleep on.


Credit : Donna Houston