The Art of Sleeping Naturally

Falling into bed and drifting off to sleep after an exhausting day is easy, sometimes the hard part is actually staying asleep. There is a natural awakening that is totally normally, and if you can handle this with ease, still feeling rested enough to fall back asleep, then you probably are doing well. But if you awaken, and begin to think about your to do list for the following day, or something you forgot to do at work the previous day, then you may benefit from some tips to lend you a better nights sleep.

Women more so than men tend to take stress to bed with them. Joyce Walsleben, Ph.D., associate professor at New York University Medical Center and author of A Women's Guide to Sleep suggests keeping a worry book/journal and write down your thoughts a couple of hours before bed. When those thoughts enter your head later in the night, tell yourself, that "I cannot improve upon it right now, so I am not thinking about it." Other experts suggest physically taking the journal to another room and leave it until morning.

Yoga Life Magazine says that planning and enjoying a ritual that you do before bed can ready your brain and give it the time it needs to relax and help your mind to calm and unwind.

Natural Sleep Remedies

Before retiring for the evening you may like to select one or more of the following ideas to assist you in getting ready for a peaceful nights sleep:

Sip a cup of a natural decaf tea, Chamomile tea or my recipe for Stress Less Herbal Tea Blend are two of my favorites.

While you are having your tea, you may also like to dim the lights and spritz the air with a relaxing room spray and put on a nature/relaxing/soothing sounds CD.

Take a stroll outside and have your tea with nature, the nighttime sounds can help to relax and soothe.

Draw a warm bath and relax with your tea in the tub. The Stress-Less sipping tea can also be used as a Bath Tea. Step out of the tub and into a nice big fluffy towel.

Apply natural balms, butters or oils to your hands and feet.

Set the room temperature to your liking.