Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Sleep Hygiene: Natural Therapy for a Better Nights Sleep

By Rose K Taylor

Address your insomnia the natural way, without chemicals, through the techniques taught in sleep hygiene therapy.

Although it has not been concluded that this therapy guarantees a good night's sleep for everyone, the techniques are something anyone who has trouble sleeping should be aware of. Over time, these instructions will turn into habits, and the mind and body will recognize and respond to them appropriately.

One thing that sleep therapy accomplishes is teaching those with sleep disorders how to quiet their minds and thus their bodies. The therapy involves repeating a series of actions to help you get ready for bed each night. The techniques will ideally lead to a night of restful sleep and a refreshing morning after.

The thought behind this therapy is by training your body to become quiet and relaxed, you will be able to fall asleep with better ease and get a full night's rest. It may take time for your body to respond to these methods, but keep trying the therapy to see how your body takes to it.

There are some dos and don'ts you should be aware of. Some suggestions include keeping your room dark and quiet while trying to fall asleep; these two external factors can keep anyone awake. It's important to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day so your internal clock recognizes the correlation between evening time and the need for sleep.

Daily exercise and regular exposure to afternoon sunlight will assist your body in the relaxation process. Since your body repairs itself while sleeping, this exhaustion will encourage your body to sleep. You can also perform relaxation techniques, such as a warm bath or muscle relaxation, right before your bedtime to promote rest.

Along the same lines are some things that you need to keep from doing around bedtime if you want to get to sleep at night. Exercise and reading are good but not when it is almost time to go to bed. These are stimulating activities that can keep you awake and interrupt your sleep patterns. Engage in these activities earlier in the day.

Stimulating drinks can hinder your sleep for the night. Avoid drinking sodas and hot drinks loaded with caffeine or having an alcoholic beverage before bed. Added to this, telling yourself that you must sleep, usually results in not sleeping at all.

Through sleep hygiene therapy, you can establish a routine that helps you get to sleep better. Sleep deprivation can contribute to serious health issues and will affect your ability to complete responsibilities. Medicinal sleep aids can also have serious side effects and even prolong your insomnia. - 16650

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