Preventing Insomnia

Do you ever have trouble sleeping? Preventing insomnia is key if we want to wake up full of energy, be productive and happy. I know I've had my fair share of lying awake in the middle of the night, but over the years I've learned what I need to do to sleep well. ( Not that I always do it!)

Did you know that you can accumulate a sleep debt? If you don't sleep enough night after night it affects your health, mood and safety. When we are overtired we are more susceptible to catching colds or flu. Also, more accidents and especially car accidents occur with people who are sleep deprived.

Here are some tips on getting a good night's sleep:

1. Keep the same schedule

As much as possible try to get to bed and wake up at the same time.

The body loves routine and that includes for eating your meals at about the same time each day as well! 

2. Create a relaxing atmosphere

It's important to turn your bedroom into a sleeping oasis. Remove all electronics from the bedroom and especially electrical wires behind the bed. This creates a negative electrical energy.

Declutter if necessary. I highly recommend Marie Kondo's book  The life changing magic of tidying up, it really is life changing to tidy up. You will feel more joy in every room you are in, in your home.  

I actually love decluttering and organizing. I think it stems from when I ws young and my mom used to give me 25 cents to take everything out of the kitchen junk drawer, organize it and put it back in. I was hooked! 

 3. Keep the room dark

Make sure the bedroom is nice and dark. If you're in the city surrounded by lights install thick curtains, or black out blinds to keep your room as dark as possible.

4. Exercise for preventing insomnia

Exercise helps in preventing insomnia, especially in the fresh air. I always sleep so well after a long bike ride or a cross country ski outing.

5. Write down your to do list for the next day

  Quiet your mind by writing down your to do list for the next day, or writing down what you;ve been thinking about, empty your brain for a  good, peaceful night's sleep.

This is one I use a lot as I have a very active brain and find it so helpful to get everything out and onto paper! 

6. Stress management

Learning how to better manage your stress is key for any kind of ailment. Try a candlelight epsom salt bath for 20 minutes. You can add in a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, rose, ylang ylang or bergamot.

Using deep abdominal breathing and relaxation techniques will help you calm the body and the mind.

7. Why you need to get to bed early

In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that certain meridians or energy lines are active at certain times of the day. The gall bladder meridian is active from around 11 PM to 1 AM. This is a peak time for you to detoxify if you are asleep by 11 PM.

According to Steven Horne, one of America's top herbalists, if you are not asleep when the gall bladder meridian becomes active at 11, you may get a surge of nervous energy that inhibits sleep. This will be followed by feeling sluggish the next morning, so for preventing insomnia, make sure you get to bed before 11.

8. Do you wake up at the same time every night?

If you wake up at the same time every night, this can indicate an imbalance. For instance, if your liver is congested this could cause you to wake up in between 1 AM and 3 AM, the time of the liver meridian.

Contact me to learn how to decongest your liver, essential for hormonal balance as well!

9. Balance your blood sugar

If you wake up in the middle of the night, wide awake, it may be because of blood sugar imbalances. When your blood sugar drops too low in the middle of the night, your adrenal glands fire off the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol to bring you blood sugar back up and you wake up, wide awake.

Avoiding sugar, white flour, refined foods, caffeine and alcohol will help. Also, try eating a  small protein rich snack at bedtime, some raw almond butter, a few walnuts, etc. A consultation can  help you learn how to balance blood sugar and strengthen your adrenal glands.

10. Avoid late night screens

In the evening, stay away from stimulation and screens, T.V., computers, cel phones and loud music. Here's a 2 minute video clip about what happens to your brain if you stay in front of screens late at night. It should make you think twice before checking your phone in bed! 

This is also essential for kids! 

I hope these tips help you in preventing insomnia and in sleeping more soundly!  Let me know if you make any changes and what happens! Work with me to get to the hidden causes of fatigue