When you fall ill, what’s the first thing you feel? Tired and sleepy. Even medication from the doctor is intended to help you fall asleep because sleep is nature’s best cure.
When we sleep, our body is at rest and this is the time the body takes stock of itself and repairs what needs repairing and recharges your batteries so you can wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to take on a new day.
I’ve found that when I don’t have enough sleep or don’t have a good night’s sleep, not only does my energy flag during the day, my skin pays a heavy price. With lack of sleep, my skin looks blotchy and dull my eye bags are so bad, they are like Louis Vuitton steamer trunks! Not only that, I tend to suffer breakouts and my pigmentation or dark spots look darker and more pronounced.
Give me a few nights of decent sleep however, and my skin clears up all by itself, looking clearer and brighter and even dark spots seem to fade away. So powerful is the power of a good night’s sleep yet it isn’t always easy to achieve it.
I’ve found some tips that help me get that much needed good night’s rest.
Lavender Oil
When I really have trouble sleeping, a few drops of lavender essential oil on a piece of tissue paper by my pillow helps me. Alternatively, a few drops in water in a tea light burner or aromatherapy pot also helps. But do try not to keep an open flame burning while you sleep. Its dangerous.
Yoga/Exercise
On nights after I’ve had my yoga lessons, I always sleep better. Most of the time I’m tired out anyway! For most of us who work in a static office environment, and who don’t use our muscles much, getting some exercise helps get you tired enough to sleep better at night.
Warm Honey
Sometimes, I like to take some warm honey before bed. For some reason, it helps me sleep.
A cosy bedroom
I keep my bed as cosy as I can, with bed linen that are soft and comfortable. I have a bit of an obsession with bed linen – I can never have enough! I also sleep better when its cool so having air-conditioning or a fan helps.
No light and sound
My bedroom curtains are thick to let in minimum sunlight in the mornings and I keep my windows closed as I live in the city and sometimes, the city can get noisy at night. Keeping noise and light to a minimum contributes to a good night’s sleep.
Light reading
I love to read and these days, the only time I have to read is before bed. I can’t appreciate chick-lit or romance novels but I love fantasy, travel books and humour. These are light enough subject matter for reading before bed for me.
No Work, No Computers
I keep all work and computers OUTSIDE the bedroom. No working in bed for me! Sometimes, I do use the computer in the bedroom, but it is quite rare because my room lighting isn’t all that bright anyway.
When I’ve had a good night’s sleep, I look and feel better and I don’t get as crabby too 😉 What other tips can you share for a good night’s rest?
I use lavender essential oil as well, but I massage a couple of drops on the back of my neck. It really is very relaxing and smells wonderful.
I find that having a hot drink before bed helps too, I usually have a milo. Will have to try honey now!
It’s weird, but the thing that lulls me to sleep at night is the sound of the street washing van that drives past the apartment at midnight every night :p
very nice post!!! Yoga does help! I remembered doing this whole our of yoga, and yoga always ends with laying down on the floor, eyes close, relaxing yourself, freeing your mind, I DOZED off! on spot! embarrassing! hahaha
I find it that everytime I am thinking about something, I just can’t sleep, I really have to keep a BLANK mind..(that includes not thinking about make-up buys LOL) Do you have a hard time sleeping parisb?
A glass of warm milk! And no heavy meal before sleep…:)
Exercise normally makes me pop off like a light. Heh.
Monstro: I found Milo a little too fattening LOL… but I’m going to try the lavender on the skin thing. I reckon it’ll last longer.
Tine: lol… its so easy to get used to the sounds of the city eh? I myself go to sleep with the sound of cars zooming by.
Nikki: LOL… I do it every week during my yoga lesson! Just don’t snore 😉 I don’t have trouble sleeping per se but there are times when I do.
Natallie: Ah I definitely second not eating a heavy meal before bed!
rinnah: Yeah the body knows when it needs to rest eh?
i had yoga for a year then i stopped recently. nowadays i can doze off within 5 mins or 3 secs after i crawl to my bed, too much activities in the day and i can hardly stay awake past 11pm! i used to keep a form 2 sejarah book beside my bed to help me to sleep, this really worked very well for me. hehe
Usually I take melatonin pills 🙂
what time is the best time to sleep?
and what time does the body go into REGEN MODE? O_O