If you have trouble getting to the land of nod, read through these little tips and tricks to see if you can’t find cloud 9 after all…
1. People usually recommend warm milk, which works well because it’s full of tryptophan (an amino acid known to induce sleep). Did you know…Turkey and tuna fish are also packed with tryptophan?!? That must be why grandma always falls asleep after Christmas dinner!
2. Our favourite suggestion would be to mix lavender and chamomile oils (a bit like our Pulse Point Pal Dr pot), and just rub a little on your pulse points to relax and relieve stress and tension before bed.
3. Have a hot bath. Add some bath salts or try adding a few drops of your lavender and chamomile mixture. Remember not to soak in there for too long, as your body will become exhausted, and you only want to relax yourself in preperation for bed. For extra measure, have a glass of warm milk while you’re there!
3. Brew a cup of ‘calming tea’. Something with a chamomile infusion should do the trick (decaffeinated of course), or if you can find one, teas containing passionflower or valerian are said to naturally relax the body (and they’re better for you than sleeping tablets, and their effects wont last long enough to make waking up an issue!)
4. Try some simple breathing exercises. Close your eyes and start by taking deep, slow breaths, continue this making each breath deeper than the last.
5. And lastly, the biggy. Everyone knows they should do it, but how many of us really do? Its caffeine. Did you know…Caffeine can cause you sleep problems anywhere up to 10-12 hours after you’ve drank it! Try cutting out caffeine after lunch time, or just generally cut down your daily intake. Why not swap regular tea for Red Bush (it’s full of anti-oxidants!) or a similar decaffeinated tea if you don’t like the taste. And don’t forget that fizzy drinks often have contain caffeine too.
With any luck, you’ll be dreaming in no time!
