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Sleep Problem? Sleep Answers!

You are not alone if you have a sleep problem. Many people have a tough time getting the sleep they need. There are a few things you can do though. We’ve read the same things over and over again. No TV in the room. Count sheep. No lights or noises. Don’t exercise before bed. Set a time and stick to it. I say, get real!

We have some control over our lives, but hidden variables just always appear out of nowhere. We find it hard to have control over bedtimes and what happens when we leave work or school. Personally I like having my TV in my bedroom. I wouldn’t ever get to watch it if it wasn’t there. How about you?

There are some things to try that you may or may not have thought about. And there are some reasons behind doing some of the things they've always told us to do. I do have a favorite ritual that I do when I can’t get to sleep. Its on the list.

So read this then go take a nap, will ya?

Here are a few recommendations to ensure that you get the sleep you deserve!

Sleep Problem? Sleep Remedy!

Make sure the bed you sleep on is comfortable for your body! How can you get good rest if your bed will not allow it?

I slept on a mattress that was way too hard for my body for many years, just because my doctors all told me I should sleep on a firm bed since I had some lower back problems. How untrue this turned out to be.

I finally bought a mattress that was softer and had a pillow top! My bed is the most comfortable place to be in the house. I love it! Yeah, it’s harder now to get out of it now, but I surely rest much better now that I am not forcing myself to get rest on a bed that was too hard for my bony structure!

You will have a sleep problem if you can't get sleep on the mattress you have. (*Note - Since I replaced my mattress, I've had very few lower back problems!)

TRY not to interrupt your sleep pattern if you have a sleep problem. Set a time to get up and go to bed each night and try to stick with it! I sleep in on the weekends but they say you shouldn't do that either. With this in mind, I always try to get to bed early on Sunday nights because I know Monday’s coming and I know I have to get up early again. Adjust your schedule the way it works best for you.

Take power naps. Power naps are 15-30 minute naps you can take during the day to energize you. They have never worked for me but I have friends who swear by them. (If I lie down to take a nap, I’m not getting back up for hours, so it's better not to.)

Drink plenty of water during the day! If you start getting sleepy during the day, drink a glass of water. If you are still sleepy, then drink another glass of water. Keep drinking water until you feel energized.

Late afternoon fatigue, (feeling tired or yawning during the day), is your body’s way of telling you that you haven’t replenished your body with enough water. You are probably dehydrated! This is the best way to replace energy when you start to yawn during the day! Then when you do get to sleep at night, you'll find that you are really tired and you will fall asleep right away. Sleep problem solved. Simple as that.

Don’t eat onions right before bedtime! Eating onions right before bedtime (or even at supper time) can bring nightmares. (This has actually been documented.) If you are having nightmares, then you aren’t getting proper sleep and it will drain you. It’s just food for thought, if you suffer from nightmares and you don’t know why. That's one sleep problem you can control,

Learn to turn off your mind! Many nights I lay down and I am still making lists for the next day in my mind. Then I wonder if I should get up and write them all down! Funny how relaxation can bring clarity to your mind. Most people think more clearly when they're resting before bed more than any other time in the day.

Go figure!

There is a lot to be learned by counting sheep!

In my case, I simply say: 'Carolyn go to sleep, Carolyn go to sleep, Carolyn go to sleep'. Every time my mind starts to wander, I go right back to it: Carolyn go to sleep!

And finally sleep wins. Zzzzzzzzzzz...

Block out the noises of your busy mind by saying the same thing over and over again and you'll get over your sleep problem. Or try the sheep thing.

When your mind goes over the same redundant thing over and over again, you will bore yourself right to sleep! If you don’t like sheep, try counting waves on the beach, petals on a flower, or stars in the sky.

Whatever you do, don’t give into getting out of bed and trying to work. It will wake you right back up again. I had a hard time sleeping the last trimester of my pregnancy. My doctor told me that at least I was getting rest! You will eventually get to sleep if you just relax enough.

Learn to meditate before bed. Meditation or prayer can help you clear you mind of complicated thoughts that keep you awake at night. You can use meditation to take you back to places you've been in the past. Thinking about a nice summer night stroll on the beach with warm breezes and salt spray in your face, might be enough to relax you right into sleep.

Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and warm or cool. (Or whatever temp makes you sleep best.)

In what environment do we put babies to sleep? Well, most likely a dark, quiet, and warm room. How do you expect to sleep if you have lights on, the stereo or TV blaring and it's cold?

If you are hot-natured instead, then cool it down in the bedroom. The best thing to do is to make the environment conducive to sleep in whatever temperature you prefer!

Don’t drink too much before bedtime! If you drink too much before bed, you will surely have to get up to pee. I drink a lot of water during the day but calm it down a bit before bed. Be sure to go just before you get into bed too!

Deter that sleep problem before you get into your nice cozy bed! On the other hand...

Have a nice cup of hot tea or milk before bed. For many people, hot tea will put you to sleep every time. New studies have shown that too much caffeine actually makes you sleepy. So have an extra cup of java with dinner! If you are sensitive to caffeine however, drink decaffeinated tea or coffee.

Hot tea or milk handles any sleep problem. It works wonders, and makes you, oh, so sleepy!

Get a sound machine. These are machine's that play the sound of the ocean waves or waterfalls. Play it when you lay down at night. The sound of water has a mesmerizing effect and it will help you relax right into sleep.

Have your doctor prescribe you a mild sedative. You really don't need anything strong for occasional restlessness. Just a mild sedative ought to do it!

Alcohol will not solve your sleep problem! Sorry! Occasional use is fine but it shouldn't be considered a long term remedy. Alcohol is actually a stimulant. You might get sleepy after a while of drinking it, but that's the effects wearing off. The more alcohol you drink, the more wide awake you'll get. If you must take a drink every night, try to only have one or two.

When you drink a lot of alcohol, you are far more likely to pass out. That is not good sound sleep, and you will suffer the consequences the next day by feeling sleepy during the day. Alcohol has it's place, but it can also cause a lot of problems if consumed in excess.

If you have a sleep problem, try one of the above tips. See if you can't get some real shut eye before you turn into a real zombie!

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