How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep Using Several Helpful Tips

by Dr. Robert A. Simmons on December 6, 2009

in Health

One of the most problematic areas in the life of people today is sleeping. As a chiropractor in charlotte, nc, I have seen that with the busy schedules of today, it can be difficult to get enough sleep. There is a difference between sleep and rest. Sleep is commonly thought of as the number of hours you are in the bed. Rest on the other hand is the completion of the restorative process. This is what allows your body to recharge and heal during the night.

There are basically two types of sleep. These are rem (rapid eye movement) and non-rem. Rem sleep is know as the dreaming state. Non-Rem is referred to as the quiet sleep. In rem sleep the brain is active. This is when you can observe the eyes moving rapidly. Rem sleep helps to restore your mental functions. Non Rem sleep is more of the deep sleeping and helps to restore body immunity and other processes.

You may not realize it but what you do every day can hinder your chances of getting a restful night’s sleep. Studies were done on how electronics affected a person’s sleep. The results were that televisions, video games, computers, etc. interfered with how well a person slept. Electronics keep your brain active so it’s vitally important to set aside some quiet time to unwind before you go to sleep.

Be aware of what you consume before bedtime. Avoid caffeinated drinks before bed. This includes coffee, sports drinks and soda. Even some teas have caffeine, so be sure to read the labels.

A common cause of poor sleep is living a sedentary lifestyle. A regular exercise program has been show to improve sleep. Exercise programs improve your overall quality of life. If you are not familiar with exercising it is a good idea to hire a personal trainer. Think of it as taking some golf lessons. Utilizing their experience will save you from wasting time doing the wrong things.

People should take a look at their bedroom and all the items in it. Most bedrooms have a television, computer/laptop or other item that keeps a person from getting the rest they need. This room is supposed to be a place one can relax.

If you sit in the bed reading or watching television, your body recognizes the bed as no more than a sofa. By keeping these activities out of the bedroom, you will be training yourself to go into the bedroom in order to rest. Repurpose your bedroom if necessary. It may be a difficult task, but it does work.

Stress has a tendency to keep a person from sleeping well and the more stress a person is under, the greater the problem. They could even fall into a depression. Depression and sleeplessness tends to go hand in hand. People often have many things going through their mind that keeps them from resting well. A person who is thinking while they are trying to sleep won’t get much sleep.

Here are some tips to getting good nights sleep. In addition to repurposing your bedroom, develop a “nite-nite” ritual. Do the same tasks every night before going to bed. Give yourself the gift of a half hour wind down. This will signal your brain and body that you are ending the day and preparing for bed.

Some things that a person can do is read in bed, drink decaffeinated tea such as peppermint tea. Rather than using the overhead light or lamp, a person should use candlelight; a lavender candle helps to relax the body.

Change can be hard but if a person wants to improve how they feel in the morning after they sleep, it’s important to change the habits that’s hindering them from getting that good night’s sleep in the first place.

Author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology technique. We regularly hold free charlotte chiropractic nutrition seminars and workshops for self improvement.

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