Insomnia and the Urbanite: How to Sleep in a World That Never Seems To

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If you’ve ever struggled with insomnia, you know how miserable it can be. For urbanites, the hustle and bustle of living in a world that never seems to be sleep can be a detrimental problem. The good news is that there are things you can do to find relief.

We live in an age where cell phones are seamlessly glued to our ears, businesses stay open 24 hours a day and new construction, noisy neighbors or honking cars are a constant. An astounding 70 million Americans are plagued with sleep disorders, and new studies suggest that those who look to a little pill to find relief are five times more likely to die an early death. This is why it’s important to look at ways of improving sleep naturally.

For one thing, a good sleep routine isn’t just for babies. Isn’t it strange that most infants and children have a nightly bedtime routine that involves relaxing baths and bedtime stories, yet we don’t give ourselves the same type of treatment? We’re not saying you need your significant other or friend or family member to read you a nice Dr. Seuss book, but the bath part is definitely worth keeping. Add some lavender Epsom salt for major relaxation and have a nice cup of chamomile or similarly decaffeinated, relaxing tea while you bathe. You can also wear earplugs to drown out noise and keep your room dark and comfortable to prevent disturbances.

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but caffeine and sugar are getting called out again. This time it’s for being major culprits in the fight for sleep. As our body processes them, our cortisol levels rise, which can result in anxiety and mood swings. Add more vegetables, protein and fish into your diet to help regulate your mood, thus allowing your mind to relax at night.

Exercise is one of the best ways to calm us physically. It releases endorphins and has been proven to improve sleep quality by 65 percent. If you’re looking to calm your mind as well as your body, meditation can be a very beneficial tool. After all, there are monks who get very little rest but manage to still be well rested.

Whatever method or methods you turn to in order to cure your insomnia, here’s wishing you a good night’s sleep without the aid of a little pill.

(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)

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Insomnia and the Urbanite: How to Sleep in a World That Never Seems To is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog

Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2012/10/05/how-to-sleep/

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