Sleep Sweet and Dream

That quote is really funny because it is so true! There's nothing more annoying than tossing and turning all night, wide awake, and then 20 minutes before you have to get up your eyelids finally start to droop. These are the days when you are sorely tempted to give in and call in sick for work :-)

For many people, falling asleep is a nightly struggle as thoughts of the day start to creep in for mulling over and processing. This will stir up stress and tension and you are well on your way to insomnia. And...if you have insomnia, you won't be able to dream.

A great way to unwind and get those worrisome thoughts out of your head is to write about your day in a journal. Also, if you have tasks to do the next day, then make a prioritized list, so you won't be tossing and turning, thinking about all you have to do.

Use 15 - 30 minutes before you go to bed to do this and do it somewhere outside of your bedroom. Even though I write my dreams down manually, I use software for my daily journal. It's faster and I also use it as a reference source for myself.

It really doesn't matter how you do your journaling. Just getting your thoughts out helps to create an effective transition from your daily activity to your nightly slumber.

Another excellent way to unwind is to create a bedtime ritual. We do this for children, so why not do it for ourselves as well! Approach your bedroom as your sanctuary, focusing on relaxation and pleasant thoughts. Take a few minutes and do some muscle relaxing stretches, or take a sleepy time bath.

Herbal dream pillows are a must! They have been around for centuries and for good reason, so if you've never used one, then you should definitely give it a try. It is a form of aromatherapy and will at least induce relaxation.

Herbal teas are widely used and they are very effective. There are many 'Sleepy Time' teas available and they all generally have one or more of the same ingredients: Passion Flower, Chamomile, Spearmint,Lavender, Catnip, Rosebuds, Hops and other mild sedative herbs.

When drinking tea, make sure to drink it with enough time to spare to go to the bathroom before you fall asleep. Otherwise your (ahem) bladder will be screaming at you in the wee hours of the morning!

If you are like me, and tea isn't your thing at night, there are also many safe, non-prescription herbal sleeping pills on the market.

Another great method to induce sleep that I personally use is listening to a hypnosis CD geared for deep sleep. This method is so relaxing that I'm usually asleep before the CD is over :-)

Make sure to check out these links for more information on natural sleep inducing ideas!

• Relaxing Yoga Stretches
• Herbal Dream Pillows
• Relaxing Bath Salts
• Hypnosis for Sleep