Gaining Health with Natural Sleep

In this day and age, we are often convinced that we need drugs to successfully perform just about any function - including sleep. It is very important that we realize that this is simply not true. Left to it's own devices and given proper nutrition and exercise, the human body can take very good care of itself and perform all of its natural functions without the aid of drugs. The first step to achieving this is believe it. So first - believe that you can sleep without artificial assistance.

Good sleep is the completion of a satisfying day.

There is an acronym that people recovering from addiction sometimes use:

H.A.L.T. Don't let yourself get too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely, or too Tired.

This is a good phrase to remember, even if you are not recovering from addiction. When you work too much, deprive yourself of breaks, and always put yourself last, you are bound to be stressed. Stress negatively impacts the quality of your sleep.

To sleep well at night, take care of your needs during the day. When you are hungry, eat well. Feed yourself good, healthy, natural foods free of chemicals and additives. Be sure to drink plenty of pure water to keep yourself hydrated and keep all of your systems functioning properly.

When you are tired, take a break. By this, I mean get up. Move away from your desk. Walk outside. Enjoy the sunshine. Breathe fresh air. A break is not sitting around on the smoke dock inhaling poison and exchanging gossip with people. Get yourself away from stress and allow your mind and body to shake off the things that cause you to be tense. Stretch. Drink a glass of pure water. Sit in the sun for a few minutes and close your eyes. Relax!

When you get home in the evening, be sure to take time to enjoy your family and/or your pets. Have a relaxing meal. Take a walk after dinner. Limit the amount of stressful television that you watch. Stay informed about the world, but don't wallow in its sorrow.

Let your body know it is time to get ready for sleep.

Establish a ritual. This is very important for signaling your body and mind that it is time to start winding down. About an hour before you lay your head on your pillow, go through a mental check list to be sure all of your night time chores are done. Turn off appliances in the kitchen. Let your pets out to do their business, and so forth. Take care of all of those little things that might nag on your mind after you lie down. Turn off your TV, radio, whatever is bringing the outside world into your home. Lock your doors and close your drapes. Put on a quiet CD, and start getting ready for bed.

Do a little stretching or light exercise if you feel so inclined. Make yourself a cup of Tension Tamer tea or plain peppermint or whatever warm non-caffeine beverage you like. If you make tea, set it aside with a cover over it to steep while you finish getting ready for bed. Dim the lighting in your home and start transitioning to your "bed-time" mode. Brush your teeth, wash your face, and all of those things and tuck yourself into bed with your tea and something relaxing to read.

The final descent into sleep...

When you have finished your tea, close your book and set it aside. You will probably want to use the restroom one last time. Turn off your quiet music (unless you like to sleep with it on). Get a glass of water for your bedside if you like to have that. Turn off all the lights (unless you like a night light). Climb into bed and pull up your covers.

Stretch. Do some deep breathing. Say a few words of prayer and thanks if it pleases you. Close your eyes and drift away!

Sweet dreams!