Whenever you have trouble sleeping, you probably blame it on your hectic lifestyle and with good reason. You may go to sleep but your body won’t be resting especially when your mind is full of troubling issues. The words sleep and rest are not synonyms when it comes bedtime. Sleep is generally seen as that total time in hours spent in bed. Rest is what you get when you “go to sleep” and let your body revitalize itself.

There are basically two types of sleep. These are rem (rapid eye movement) and non-rem. Rem sleep is know as the dreaming state. Non-Rem is referred to as the quiet sleep. In rem sleep the brain is active. This is when you can observe the eyes moving rapidly. Rem sleep helps to restore your mental functions. Non Rem sleep is more of the deep sleeping and helps to restore body immunity and other processes.

People’s lives are busy, which can interfere with them getting the rest they need to recuperate properly. Studies were conducted on the interference of electronics on sleep and it found that televisions, computers, smart phones, video games and more tended to interfere with the brain’s need to slow down and rest during bedtime.

Be aware of what you consume before bedtime. Avoid caffeinated drinks before bed. This includes coffee, sports drinks and soda. Even some teas have caffeine, so be sure to read the labels.

A common cause of poor sleep is living a sedentary lifestyle. A regular exercise program has been show to improve sleep. Exercise programs improve your overall quality of life. If you are not familiar with exercising it is a good idea to hire a personal trainer. Think of it as taking some golf lessons. Utilizing their experience will save you from wasting time doing the wrong things.

People should take a look at their bedroom and all the items in it. Most bedrooms have a television, computer/laptop or other item that keeps a person from getting the rest they need. This room is supposed to be a place one can relax.

If you sit in the bed reading or watching television, your body recognizes the bed as no more than a sofa. By keeping these activities out of the bedroom, you will be training yourself to go into the bedroom in order to rest. Repurpose your bedroom if necessary. It may be a difficult task, but it does work.

It’s important to identify how much stress you’re under since this is a culprit in the lack of sleep a person gets. Stress can eventually lead you to depression, which will also interfere with your ability to get a good sleep. Determine what makes your mind run wild and find ways to slow it down.

If you want a good night’s rest, then implement a nighttime routine that will help you relax before you lay down; 30 minutes is generally sufficient time to get your mind to relax. As time passes, your brain will realize that you’re ready to end the day and go to sleep.

So what can you do to make your brain slow down and relax? Consider picking up a book and drink a decaffeinated cup of tea; maybe peppermint tea. Instead of using lamps and the room’s overhead light, use candlelight. Be aware that you’ll need to blow these out before you go to sleep. A very relaxing scent to use is lavender.

As with everything, change is challenging. To improve your sleep you need to change your patterns. It can be difficult be it is achievable. Customize your own wind-down ritual and have a good night’s sleep tonight!

Author: Dr. Robert Simmons is a charlotte chiropractor using applied kinesiology technique. For more information attend one of our free charlotte chiropractic nutrition lectures and workshops for self improvement.

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