Tuesday, March 8, 2011

sleep yourself happy

Lack of sleep at best can make you grumpy and irritable, making it hard to function properly, at worst it can lead to anxiety and depression.  When we suffer from sleep deprivation it affects our memories and also our abilities to use our brains effectively making us more prone to accidents.
All that’s enough to make anyone miserable, so here are a few tips to get a good night’s sleep
  • Have a calming warm bath or shower – not too hot or that energises you – try some relaxing bubbles or oils such as lavender
  • Turn off the TV at least half an hour before sleep time
  • Play some soothing music or listen to a relaxation or meditation tape
  • Read something (but not work related – don’t need to start thinking about work now)
  • Avoid nicotine and caffeine close to bedtime – try a milk or herbal drink instead
  • Keep a notepad by the bed, then if your mind starts racing on with worries or thinking of things you have to do, write them down to deal with the next day – then let go of them
  • If you still find it hard to stop your brain racing – try visualisation – imagine you are somewhere calm and relaxing eg laid on a beach, listening  to the waves, watching a solitary cloud float across the sky, feel the warmth of the sunshine on your skin and relax.
  • Try relaxing all your muscles – starting with your feet – first tensing then relaxing the muscles – continue up your body focussing on each part at a time – tensing then relaxing.
  • Make sure your bedroom is a haven for rest – banish clutter, especially TV’s, computers and mobile phones, make sure your bed is comfortable, the bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature
And if all these tricks fail check out the insomnia website on the links page
Night night sleep tight

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