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What I Can Do In Bed To Get To Sleep
By Linda A.
In determining whether your sleep problems are really worthy of concern,
and not something easily adjusted to with proper understanding or a new
schedule, keep in mind that your sleep needs may vary with circumstances.
For example, you might need more sleep during periods of crisis or change,
or when you are under emotional stress. Many women often need more sleep
during pregnancy or their menstrual period; other women might experience
temporary insomnia at those times. Changes in your work schedule or social
life, a new diet or unusual meals, getting more exercise or less - these
are all examples of conditions that might throw your sleep temporarily out
of whack and trick you into thinking you have insomnia.
The condition of modern life with its pressures, changes, pollutants,
noise, over-stimulation, and many nuisances can wreak havoc on the
endocrine and nervous systems, throwing the body’s natural rhythms out of
balance. The result can be a disruption of your natural sleep rhythms.
Undoubtedly, stress-induced imbalances affect the ability to sleep
properly. You have to be unusual not to worry about something these days,
but if you are the type of person who obsesses, you ought to do something
about it. Some people find it helpful to write down their concerns or make
a to-do list for the next day several hours before going to bed or while
they are just about to go to sleep. Definitely don’t leave the list next
to your bed or even in the bedroom where it will surely cry out for you in
the middle of the night. A warm bath, some quite music, or some relaxation
exercises such as deep breathing can also be helpful.
Here is a technique for relaxing the eyes and face muscles. Lie down and
get comfortable, close your eyelids tightly and without moving your head,
look up. Hold this position for 30 seconds, observing the tension in your
eye muscles and eyeballs. Now relax your eyes completely, letting them go
limp in their sockets. Lie in this relaxed state for about 5 minutes.
Repeat the entire process. Next, close your eye tightly, but this time
look down. Again, do not move your head. Follow the usual procedure for
noticing the sensations and then relaxing. Do the same by looking to the
right and to the left, always with eyes tightly closed and head
stationary.
Many individuals make the mistake of going to bed before their bodies are
ready. They think that somehow that they can make up for lost sleep by
spending more time in bed. Unfortunately, when the lights go out, the mind
often switches on. Putting off going to bed until the urge to sleep is
really descending over you not only increases the chances of falling
asleep, but reinforces the idea that bed is for sleeping.
Keep in mind that your sleep requirements may vary with circumstances,
such as pregnancy, emotional stress, change in exercise or any type of
crisis. Visit
http://www.better-sleep-resources.com/ to learn more about whether or
not sleep problems should be of concern or just a consequence of
short-term interruptions in your normal patterns.
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