Your Health Online | Easy Steps To A Good Night’s Sleep

Most people agree that the quality of sleep we get has a direct impact on how we feel the next day. Without enough sleep we will not only feel tired, but we are likely to feel fatigued and stressed.

This can lead to feelings of frustration and even irritability which of course can have an impact on how we relate to the people around us. And if we are feeling exhausted it is unlikely that we will want to exercise or even go to much effort to prepare a nutritious meal.

This means that we may opt to grab fast food and spend the evening on the couch.

Wow – that sounds like a lot of bad just from missing out on a good night’s sleep. But what if you miss out on sleep regularly?

Can you imagine the cumulative effect? We would likely feel lousy, lose our friends, gain weight, and be out of shape physically. That’s how important sleep is!

Most of us know that we feel better when we sleep well and we love it when we do, but the problem is that the sleep just doesn’t come, or when it does it doesn’t last.

Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take to improve your chances of sleeping through the night. Check out the list below.

1) Watch what you eat.

Don’t eat too close to bedtime. Allow at least 2 – 3 hours so that your food can digest and if possible avoid spicy foods or anything that might cause indigestion.

2) Get some exercise.

Work off some energy during the day. Exercise helps the body crave sleep at night.

3) Develop a bedtime ritual.

We know this works for children and it works for adults too. Develop a routine that you follow faithfully every night before going to bed.

This might be something like reading a chapter from a book, then having a drink of water before brushing your teeth and getting into bed. Whatever works for you, you decide, but make it something that you would like to do every night.

4) Find your spot.

Some people prefer sleeping with a fan on for a breeze or the white noise and some people insist on a night light. There are some people that absolutely must have socks on in order to be comfortable and others would feel their feet were suffocating inside the cloth.

Some individuals cannot go to sleep without the tones and voices coming from the TV and others have to have absolute darkness and total silence. Your job is to know what you need and insure that you have it.

Consider things like the position of the bed. Feng Shui teaches that you should be able to see the doorway but you should not see yourself in the mirror. Think about relaxing fragrances.

Many people enjoy the scent of lavender and other soothing fragrances. The point is that you have to know yourself and do whatever it takes.

And finally, if you enjoy wine then try a small glass of wine before bedtime. That may help to relax you and induce sleep.

If after trying the above techniques you are still having difficulty sleeping, it is definitely time to seek professional assistance. Your doctor may want to run some tests to see if there are medical reasons for your insomnia.