Ten Proven Tips to Drift You Off to Dreamland

Does this ever happen to you? You go to bed after a stressful day, feeling so tired you're certain you'll fall asleep immediately when your head hits the pillow. Then, as you snuggle under the covers, all the worries and anxieties of the day begin to plague your mind. You think about what you didn't get accomplished today, things you should have done or said differently, and of all the people you need to see, things you need to do, and calls you need to make, tomorrow. You toss and turn, and sleep refuses to come.

When you feel this restless and this stressed, not only are you losing a night of valuable sleep, but you are also causing other adverse health effects. Lack of sleep can lead to confusion, moodiness, increased stress, a shorter attention span, and fatigue throughout the day, as well as other unwanted symptoms.

Here are ten proven tips guaranteed to help send you off to the land of Nod.

Preface bedtime with a long, hot shower or relaxing bubble bath. This will help to relax tired muscles and prepare your body for restful sleep. For added benefit, why not add some pure grade essential oils, such as lavender or chamomile, to your bath water?

Do not eat anything for at least half an hour before going to bed. Those late-night trips to raid the fridge can be mighty tempting, but it's better to avoid them right before bed.

Play some soothing music just before going to sleep, and perhaps even while you're attempting to drift off. No Rolling Stones or dance music... try something calming and gentle. This will put you into a peaceful, restful frame of mind, and help sleep come all the more quickly.

Turn your cares and worries over to a higher power. Many of us were told to say our prayers as children. Prayer can be just as powerful and beneficial to us as adults. Turn the cares of the day over to your higher power to handle on your behalf.

Journal. Just before going to sleep, why not right down what's on your mind? This assists you in getting all those nagging worries and ideas out of your head and onto paper. Writing helps you to clear your head and align your thoughts.

Take a walk. Even if you just walk around your back yard, this is helpful in dispelling excess energy and reducing stress. Watch the stars twinkle in the sky, listen to the crickets sing, or count the cars as they go by. This will help the day's problems to dissipate.

Laugh. Watch a good comedy, read the funnies, or watch a cartoon. Laughter is one of the best tools to make that stress melt away.

Meditate. There are all sorts of wonderful meditation resources out there. Meditating can be as simple as concentrating on your breathing. It's a wonderful way to calm the mind and relax the body.

Remember that tomorrow is another day, as Scarlett O'Hara reminded us. If you didn't get a project accomplished today, chances are you can complete it tomorrow. If you had an argument with a friend or co-worker, you can clear it up tomorrow. But for tonight, why not put the thoughts aside and catch some sleep?

Count your blessings. Sure, sheep are great, but why not count all the blessings in your life? You may be blessed with a warm and safe home, a nice car, loving friends and family, a puppy, a great job, or other people, circumstances or objects you cherish. Think about these when you go to bed, and most likely, not only will you forget your worries, but also you'll fall asleep with a grateful heart and a smile on your lips.So, the next time you're too restless or too stressed out to fall asleep, try some of these tips, and you'll be drifting off to dreamland in no time at all!

Good night. Sweet dreams.