Delicious
Digg
Google
YahooSome people think that sleeping is just a sign of laziness. In today's busy time, people tend to treat good night's sleep as a luxury. What they forget to consider is how sleeping helps them to face the world with an alert mind and adequate energy. Though, some say that since many bodily functions slow down during rest, sleep is little more than a state of inactivity, medical researchers have learned (by studying brain-wave patterns) that there are repeated cycles and stages of sleep. The human brain runs at high speed during certain periods of sleep, thus meaning that it doesn't go inactive. A healthy sleep involves going through these cycles four or more times every night and spending a sufficient quantity of time in each of the cycle. Here are some practical tips to help you attain all the sleep that you need.
Avoid alcohol as well as stimulants like coffee or tea near bedtime. Though many often think that alcohol will help them in going to sleep, clinical studies show that alcohol can have a rebound effect and keep you awake instead.
Quit smoking. The majority of us are very much aware of the terrible effects of cigarettes on our health. The warning on the label speaks for itself, right? Smokers have greater difficulty falling asleep because cigarettes raise blood pressure, speed up the heart rate, and stimulate brain-wave activity. Merely because of the withdrawal symptoms, smokers tend to wake up more in the middle of the night.
If possible, avoid extreme mental or physical stimulation just before bedtime. Exercise is best done in the morning. However, if this isn't possible, avoid doing it before trying to go to sleep. A relaxed mood is crucial in attaining an easier sleep regime and tackling big problems or mental challenges just before you go to bed can interfere with your mission.
Have a quiet, dark and relatively cool bedroom. A bright light wakes you up, while darkness induces sleep. When temperatures are highest, usually in the mid-morning and mid-evening, you are most alert. Yet, as your body temperature drops, you become increasingly drowsy. If you are living near the airport, where noise is inevitable, you can use earplugs or some other methods of reducing noise, which can help you achieve restful sleep. Some do believe that white noise--any low-frequency, steady and monotonous hum such as that made by an electric fan--can be helpful if there is a need to mask street sounds.
Be alert about taking sleep-inducing medication. A doctor's prescription is a must when planning to get some medicine to help your sleeping problem. However, many drugs prescribed to induce sleep are habit forming, become less effective with prolonged use and have damaging side effects. Those drugs are intended for short-term therapy only.
By Huervana Mark Anthony
View more information and all guides by Huervana Mark Anthony
