Today we are going to discuss GETTING TO SLEEP! How many of us can say that we have had trouble falling asleep at some point in our lives? Probably most of us.... Have you ever been so exhausted, fall into bed but have your mind still racing - you lie there awake thinking that you should be asleep?!. When you are so tired and our body needs sleep, but your mind is still racing - it can begin a vicious cycle of anxiety and sleeplessness. This cycle causes more tiredness and irritability throughout the day, affecting your work, school, relationships and family life. It's amazing that something as natural as sleep causes problems for millions of people around the world.

It really is crucial that humans get around 7-8 hours sleep a night to properly recuperate, regenerate and de-stress. Most people in our modern society rarely get a good solid 8 hours of uninterrupted quality sleep. When this deprivation occurs night after night, your body starts to get annoyed and things can start falling apart.

SLEEP TECHNIQUES

I know you have probably heard it all before, but the reason you are reading this article must mean that you haven't made any changes in your daily routine to induce better sleep! So keep reading!

STOP USING ELECTRICAL DEVICES 1/2 AN HOUR BEFORE SLEEP TIME....

The biggest change that I have made in my own life is to stop all use of electrical equipment for a minimum of half an hour before I want to actually sleep. This means I stop using my laptop, mobiles watching TV or studying and go have a shower, bath, or read in bed using a dimmer light.

I have found this one change in my lifestyle to make a HUGE difference in my ability to actually fall asleep and also have a quality full-night's sleep.

GET THINGS OFF YOUR MIND....

I have a busy lifestyle and am always thinking way too much about all the things I have to do next. I have come to the conclusion that thinking about things does not get them done, so every night I write down a list of everything in my diary that I need to achieve tomorrow, for the week etc. When I am in bed it is time for sleep, my tasks will wait for tomorrow. This is a very liberating technique as it leaves your mind free to process what has happened during the current day, then unwind and eventually stop thinking to let you sleep peacefully.

MAKE SURE YOUR BED AND BEDROOM IS A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT......

My partner and I recently made the best decision of our lives and bought a new mattress and pillows!! Buy the best mattress and pillows that you can afford, you will not regret it. Your bedroom needs to be pitch black if possible to sleep - even lights from electrical devices can mess with your brain, confusing the day/night messages. Leave your mobile out in the lounge room if you can. Your body needs to be cooler at night to sleep deeply, therefore having appropriate bedding, natural if possible, is beneficial.

GUIDED MEDITATION OR RELAXATION MUSIC CAN HELP...

Another technique I have used is switching on a guided meditation cd just as I go to bed. This helps your mind switch off from the constant babble and relax into sleep. Combined with the other techniques, I now find that I fall asleep quicker, stay asleep and wake in the morning rested and refreshed for the first time since I can remember! If you have serious problems with your sleep it is aways a good idea to have a check up with your health care practitioner.