Sleep Well

© Nishant Baxi, 2020

ISBN 978-5-4498-5799-6

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

 
Sleep Well
A Natural Remedy Guide for Healthful Sleep
Nishant Baxi
 

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Table of Contents

SLEEP WELL 1

A NATURAL REMEDY GUIDE FOR HEALTHFUL SLEEP 1

INTRODUCTION 3

CHAPTER 1 5

BEHAVIORAL CHANGES FOR HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS 5

Habits at Bedtime 5

Sleep Environment 6

Sleep Equipment 7

CHAPTER 2 9

SELF-HELP SLEEP TECHNIQUES 9

 
Color Therapy 9
 
 
Physical Activity 11
 
 
Relaxation through Meditation 12
 
 
Simple Respiration: Breathing and Relaxing 13
 
 
Music and Sounds for Sleep Induction 14
 
 
Reducing Your Evening Stimulation 16
 
 
Stay Away from Internal Stimulants 17
 
 
Your Diet Matters 18
 
 
Get Rid of Anxiety and Worry 20
 
 
Bath time 21
 

CHAPTER 3 23

HERBAL REMEDIES AND SUPPLEMENTS 23

Your Body’s Natural Hormones 23

The Benefits of Chamomile 24

The Soothing Properties of Lavender 25

The Medicinal Use of Valerian Root 27

A World of Other Herbs 29

Vitamin & Mineral Supplements 31

Conclusion 33

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Introduction

Everyone experiences trouble sleeping once in a while. While this may be inconvenient, it’s often temporary. When occasional sleepless nights turn into a regular occurrence of many nights in a row with interrupted sleep, you might have a sleeping problem.

When you don’t get enough sleep for an extended period of time your tiredness impacts every part of your life. Physically, you might notice a decrease in your productivity and daily activities. Emotionally, you may experience relationship problems or a change in your personality. Mentally, a chronic sleep problem can create stress and anxiety.

There are three categories of sleep deprivation and insomnia. The first stage, called “initial” insomnia, is when you first realize you’re having difficulty achieving a sleep state and occurs when it takes longer than a half an hour to fall asleep. “Middle” insomnia is when you have difficulty staying asleep. Once awakened, you stay awake through the wee hours of the morning. The most sever level of insomnia is “late” or “terminal” insomnia. This is when you wake up early in the morning and stay awake after sleeping less than 6 hours.

There are a variety of reasons that you may be having trouble sleeping. If your insomnia is due to a medical condition, your doctor will be able to provide you with suggestions and appropriate medical attention. If it’s determined that your sleep problem is due to a medical condition, the condition will be treated with the intention that this will in turn treat the insomnia.

On the other hand, if your sleep difficulties are occurring because you are stuck in a cycle of sleepless nights, or your insomnia is due to your inability to reach a state of inner peace needed to achieve sleep, this book is for you. Here you’ll find healthy options to try before taking potentially harmful and habit forming prescription sleep aids.

In this book you’ll learn about:

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– Preparing the perfect sleep environment

– Relaxation techniques

– The role of exercise and diet in your sleep health

– How to quiet your mind to promote good sleep

– Beneficial natural supplements

When following the tips in this book, you will have all of the tools needed to stop tossing and turning at night and start enjoying a full night’s sleep, naturally. You will wake up feeling rejuvenated and attentive, instead of exhausted and restless. Prepare yourself drift off to dreamland naturally!

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Chapter 1

Behavioral Changes for Healthy Sleep Habits

Habits at Bedtime

It is essential that your brain has consistency by creating a bedtime schedule so that your body can learn how to fall asleep without medication. Create a sleep strategy to determine the best routine, and plan to follow the routine for one to two weeks before making any alterations.

Your sleep strategy should include:

– A regular bedtime

– A consistent wake time

– A record of any natural supplements you have tried

– Routine activities that are not stimulating such as brushing your teeth or reading

Moving through a regular bedtime process will signal to your brain that it’s time to go to sleep. The desired end result of having a sleep strategy is regular sleep that’s restful and refreshing.

Plan to get 7—8 hours of sleep nightly, and don’t allow yourself to oversleep. If you wake up the same time every day you’ll establish a routine. Avoid naps during the day because your body will be confused, and it will interrupt your sleep pattern. You can’t bank extra hours of sleep, and trying to sleep later in the morning to make up for sleep lost overnight will leave you feeling tired.

Every person has different sleep habits, so be patient while you work through the process of finding the sleep plan that works best for you.

 
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Sleep Environment
 
 
In addition to a regular bedtime schedule, it is important to make you bedroom a place that is conducive to sleep. The more comfortable and relaxing your sleep space is, the better your chances for falling asleep and staying asleep. Consider these tips when creating your relaxing sleep atmosphere:
 
 
– Get rid of all annoyances and interruptions.
 
 
– Control the room temperature; cooler air (between 65 and 70 degrees F) is typically more comfortable for sleep, however, set the temperature to your preference.
 

– Allow for room ventilation, if possible. Crack a window slightly to allow for air flow. The circulating fresh air will help you breathe deeply, and provide oxygen that is essential for good sleep.

– Use ear plugs if there are noises outside the bedroom. There are many types of plugs that are specifically for sleeping, so if at first you don’t find the perfect pair, try another.

– Mask noises with a white noise machine if you decide to not wear earplugs. Machines are designed specifically for this purpose, or you can use a fan or air conditioner to provide the background noise. This will hide background sounds such as traffic or a barking dog.

– Try using a CD player to play soothing background music.

– Your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock, relies on light and dark patterns to determine when to signal your body to fall asleep. Keep your room as dark as possible to help your body settle into a sleep state. Use mini-blinds and thick curtains to block light from windows. Try wearing an eye mask to block any remaining light.

– Having a clock by your bedside might be adding to your sleep problem. If you are watching the clock all night long, face it toward the wall so that

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you can’t see the time. Constantly looking at the clock only makes you think about sleep, and lack of sleep, which continues the cycle of sleeplessness.

– Consider a room humidifier for winter months when the air is dry.

– Use your room only for sleeping. Remove the TV, computer, stereo. Your mind should associate your bedroom only with sleep.

– Wear the most comfortable clothing you own. Non-constrictive clothing won’t wake you in the middle of the night.

As you can see here, there are many different tips to try to help you sleep better. Each individual has their own unique combination of elements that make up their perfect sleep environment. If one suggestion doesn’t work for you, make note and try another until you find out what works best for you.

Sleep Equipment

Also important to the sleep environment is the equipment used when sleeping.

Sleep equipment includes the pillow, bedding, mattress, and sleep clothes.

Your mattress should be smooth and firm so that your back is well-supported and your body is comfortable when lying down. Make sure the mattress is supported completely by the bed frame to avoid sagging.

The mattress should also be appropriately sized for your body. Make sure you have a big enough bed so that you have enough space. If you have a single or double bed, consider buying a larger queen or king sized mattress.

Use whatever style and type of pillow you find most comfortable. It doesn’t matter what it’s made of as long as it provides you with neck and head support.

The sheets and blankets should be clean and pressed. If you do not like feeling tucked in, loosen the sheets so that your feet can move around freely.

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To find the right temperature for you, experiment with different blankets of a variety of weights and materials. Since a cool room is most conducive to sleep, keep the lower temperature in mind when selecting bedding.

Find a sleep position that is comfortable for you and lay in that position so that your body knows it’s time for sleep. Whether it is lying on your back, on your side, or on your stomach, your favorite position will help you instantly get relaxed.

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