I did not sleep well last night. Even not sleeping well is kind of an understatement it was more like the worst night I've had in ages. I'm finding that as I am beginning to grow older and with the more responsibilities I have the less I am able to get decent sleep at night.
I'm not really sure what contributed to my insomnia last night. I feel like I really just could not get my mind to shut down long enough to get into a decent sleep. This is definitely a work in progress with me and one of the things that it helps me to remember is that sometimes insomnia is hormonal. For some reason it gives me comfort to know that it is not necessarily an extraneous circumstance that is keeping me up it is just that my body is not wanting to cooperate. I'm currently looking into some natural remedies to help combat insomnia. More on that later.
Here are some of the things that I find helpful:
1. Try to ensure your surroundings are restful. I believe since I am so high strung that it is hard for me to really relax if my surroundings are cluttered and messy. I made a goal for myself that every night I would not "finish my day" without the kitchen and the living room being picked up. They don't have to be perfect, but it helps if the toys are picked up and the dinner dishes are put away and counters wiped down. The important thing is do whatever it takes to make YOU feel restful in your environment.
2. Take a nice relaxing shower or bath before bed. I know that I certainly cannot rest if I feel like I have the day's gunk on me. Dissolving a cup or two of epsom salts in your bath water will help with relaxation after a hard day and will also help to build up your magnesium stores in your body.
3. Avoid topics of conversation or TV shows that leave you feeling anxious or overstimulated. I like to read a book or novel that is interesting yet leaves me feeling calm at night. As much as I love Stephen King, he is not a writer I read before bed.
4. Have a nightly routine that you stick to so that your body knows it is time to unwind and get ready for a restful sleep. My nightly routine is very simple. Aside from physically getting dressed for bed I do the above-mentioned things but also get my ice water, check on the kids, lock down the house, etc. every night.
5. Make your bedroom/bed your sanctuary. Lastly, I try to remember that our bed is a place for my husband and I to be together. It is not a place to discuss finances or other heavy topics and have overly serious conversations that send your mind into overdrive. You want your bed and your bedroom to be a place of rest and comfort. Try to make it as tranquil as you can.
These tips have ensured that my rest is definitely better, although I still sometimes succumb to insomnia. Just like last night. But, I think that these things just happen sometimes and you have to try to roll with it and get through the day as best you can. Hopefully my hormones will settle down over the next few days and I can get some rest. I hope you are able to rest well also.
What are some ways that help you relax and wind down for the evening so that you get a good night's rest?
Rum and juice. He he. ;)
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