Sleep Help That Works - 5 Ways to Relax and Get Some Sleep!

If you're like me then you need some sleep help. If you tend to have difficulties getting to sleep or wake up at odd times during the night it may be that your body and mind are just not ready for sleep when you think they should be.

Sometimes, in order to get a good night of sleep, you first need to teach yourself to relax so that falling asleep becomes more natural: your body and mind are ready for sleep!

Relaxation and sleeping is not the same thing, although many would have you believe they are. Obviously they are closely related but relaxation being the opposite of stress, it has to be a pre-cursor to actually sleeping because few of us sleep well when under great stress.

Sleep is a semi-unconscious state when our bodies and our minds rejuvenate themselves and much of the mass of information that bombards us during the day gets sorted and evaluated. We know we need about eight hours of good sleep as an adult, but many of us have difficulty achieving this. Our sleep help should come in the form of sleep preparation commonly called relaxation.

Here are five different ways I have used to successfully prepare both body and mind for much needed deep sleep.

1...Exercise has been shown to be one of the greatest natural stress reducer. One very good way to relax is to take an evening walk or an evening swim at your local activity center. Yoga based exercises have been very successful. I was once told not to allow my soccer team players to swim before they went to bed, the evening before the tournament final, because they would be too relaxed and not play so well. Actually it was quite the reverse, and they played better than ever!

2...We must make sure our sleeping environment is conducive to sleep. Turn off the noise, turn down the light, make sure there is fresh air and then take some time to do some pre-sleep relaxation. This may be reading or doing breathing exercises but the environment should be a supportive one or your efforts will be wasted.

3...Consider what you have eaten or drank before you try to sleep. Alcohol is not conducive and neither is caffeine but not being hungry or thirsty is also to be considered. Personally I have a bowl of non-sugared, whole wheat cereal and one percent milk, which makes me feel well fed and yet has few calories. Toast is good: consider something that is healthy, caffeine free and very low on sugar. Large late night suppers are not a good preparation for a good night sleep as your body doesn't relax under heavy digestion.

4...Another area of relaxation for me is having a relaxing hobby that takes your mind away from the day's problems and acts as a relaxing activity for the mind. Some collect and organize coins or stamps, some draw and paint others write or 'blog'. Whatever it is should put you into a state of "slow down" so your mind can relax and the move to sleep is but a short step. I know several people whose hobby involves a pet such as a cat, and this is the trigger to relaxing before sleep. Sleep help in the form of a family pet such as a small dog or cat to cuddle up to can be a very powerful trigger.

5...Most of us need to meditate in some form before sleeping. This can take the form of deep breathing and thinking or taking a long warm bath. Reading helps for some but whatever the method we need to involve both our body and mind. Listening quietly to books on tape, listening to soft music perhaps in a quiet environment often promotes a meditative sleep.

Many of us need to train our bodies and minds to relax before we can enjoy a good, deep night's sleep. Besides making sure you're 'tired' from a good day's work there are methods we can employ to promote the pre-sleep relaxation. Give yourself some sleep help and devise some relaxation methods that work for you.