sleep

Your sleep, or lack thereof, may be the answer.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 35 percent of American adults experience at least one symptom of insomnia every night or almost every night. And it’s effecting their sex lives and safety too!

“Poor sleep leads to increased risk of sickness, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure”, shares Dr. Richard Shane, psychotherapist in Colorado, and founder of the Sleep Easily Method. His prescription for a better night’s rest doesn’t involve any medication. Instead it teaches you how to focus your mind and calm various parts of your body, including the tongue, throat, breath, heart and abdomen to encourage an easier pathway to slumber and less interruptions once you are asleep.

His techniques have been used by professionals who’s sleep is more than a health problem—its also a safety issue—including pilots, surgeons, the police, firefighters, and truckers.

In addition to Dr. Shane’s mindfulness methods, other experts recommend these four things to prep for a good night’s slumber:

  1. Prep for a good night—all day. This involves not only cutting out caffeine before 2 p.m., but also watching what you eat, and your alcohol intake. Eating too much, and too heavy close to bedtime can disrupt your sleep; alcohol can make it difficult to have restful sleep. Are you eating the wrong foods? Check out 4 of the worst foods  before bed list.  In addition, spend some amount of time outside everyday to encourage your natural body clock to reset. And exercise! Individuals who exercise tend to sleep better than those that are less active.
  2. Turn it down. Children typically have the same bedtime routine every evening; adults should be no different. Turn off the power at least one hour before bed, and start practicing a calming yoga routine or just do a few stretches to encourage your body to wind down.
  3. Drink wisely. Having a cup of tea or steamed almond milk before nohow bed can be helpful if you drink it early on (at least one hour before sleep). Try to sip and savor the tea to help calm your nervous system.
  4. Stick to a set time. With the time change around the corner, its best to stick to a set time for bed helping your body clock reset. The first few nights, you may want to turn in a bit early to help compensate for the earlier rise.

Here are 7 more ways to help reset your body clock!

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