ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT STRESS MORE EFFICIENTLY

A lack of sleep is more than just annoying (think of being wide awake at 3:00 am and just staring at the walls), it’s damaging to your health. It will lower your resistance to disease as well as your ability to handle stress well. Insomnia will undoubtedly rob you of needed vitality and push you towards burnout faster.

Have this attitude: Good Sleep is non-negotiable! If you are a hard worker, a deep and focused thinker, a creator of beauty, a problem solver, etc., you will need mental clarity and a rested and restored body to meet the demands of what you do. Do not allow yourself to fall into or remain in a cycle of exhaustion.

Here are some action steps you can take right away to calm your body and mind so that you can begin to sleep well again.

Note: these are foundational steps to take in order to develop better habits and upgrade your sleeping environment. 

• Turn off all blue lights from computers, cell phones, iPads/Tablets and TVs at night within 2 hours of your bedtime. This type of light will hinder the production of melatonin, an essential hormone that your body secretes to enable you to sleep. At least consider wearing amber glasses that block blue light which suppresses melatonin and interrupts your sweet sleep.  See www.lowbluelights.com Also consider the free app called f.lux that uses technology to keep your computer’s light from keeping you awake.

• Do not fall asleep with the TV on, especially if you like to watch violent or adventure dramas. These over-activate your mind and can stimulate your fight or flight response to the point that you are WIDE AWAKE again.

• Take a stellar quality magnesium supplement. Magnesium is one of the first minerals to be depleted when you are under chronic stress. This will hinder relaxation. Sometimes insomnia is even a sign of magnesium deficiency.

• Avoid caffeine-containing foods and beverages after mid-day. These overstimulate your body and make it very difficult for the body to calm and relax by nightfall.

Wisdom Source: When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.  Proverbs 3:24