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Monthly Archives: March 2019

Natural Insomnia Cure: How to Fall Asleep in 6 Steps

Posted on by Posted in Self-Improvement .

Insomnia can be difficult to contend with, especially when you tried everything from cutting out substances to setting a regular routine, only to no avail. But there’s still hope.

If you haven’t had any luck trying to fall asleep normally, try this out instead:

1. Turn off the lights
Artificial lighting throws off your body’s natural circadian rhythm, so it’s important to expose yourself to natural daylight as much as possible and reduce your sources of artificial lighting as the day ends.

This improves your chances of having your natural rhythm kick in again, and you’ll find yourself feeling tired and sleepy.

2. Get the right amount of exercise at the right time
Before you drag yourself to the gym, keep in mind that this doesn’t mean running a marathon or lifting weights. Simple aerobic exercises, such as walking or riding a bike, can be good for improving your chances of getting sleep.

3. Use lavender
If you’re not already familiar with essential oils or fragrances, lavender’s calming properties can help you unwind and fall asleep after a long day. Simply place a small amount and dilute it with water before switching on the diffuser.

You can also apply it as an oil, as it provides nutrients such as vitamin A, calcium, and iron, and even reduces anxiety and fatigue.

4. Enjoy a long shower
If you’re feeling particularly tense about not being able to get some sleep no matter how hard you try, you might benefit from taking a relaxing shower.

Our bodies’ circadian rhythms are not just sensitive to light, but are also sensitive to temperature. This means that our internal clocks start to signal our brains that it’s time to rest when it gets cold. Your breathing slows down and your heart rate drops as a result.

5. Drink tea
While you should absolutely avoid any sources of caffeine when you already have trouble getting the shut-eye you need, there’s no problem enjoying a cup of tea to wind down after a long day.

6. Practice deep breathing exercises
This will come in handy if you find that you have anxiety or a lot of racing thoughts keeping you awake even when you want to fall asleep.

While it may seem difficult at first, it’s important that you focus on your breathing. Your mind will eventually clear itself after a while and you will be able to get some rest more easily.

So the next time you really want to fall asleep but can’t, forget the sleeping pill – simply do the following, let yourself unwind, and drift off gently until you close your eyes.

Sweet dreams!

How to Pick the Right Mattress for Your Bed

Posted on by Posted in Home Decor .

When it’s time to ditch your old bed and find a new replacement for your bed, you’ll quickly find that doing so is not easy task.

A little over a third of your whole life is spent asleep, so when you get the chance, you want to make sure that time is spent as comfortably as possible – and here’s how you can find the right bed to get a good night’s sleep in:

1. Consider quality.
Mattresses are expensive, so don’t skimp out on them! Going with the cheapest option you find might just be something that will disappoint you once your bed starts sagging and no longer supports your weight.

While quality mattresses aren’t exactly cheap, they don’t have to be too expensive either. Aside from finding the right size for your bed, you want to consider the brand as and give it an actual test by lying down on it if possible.

2. Factor in your weight and sleeping position.
Weight has more to do with choosing a mattress than you think: support, feel, and the mattress’s cooling all depends on how heavy you are.

Here’s how you can choose the best firmness level depending on your weight:

• Light (less than 68 kilograms) – If you belong in this weight category, it’s best to get a bed with medium firmness to make sure it doesn’t sink too much.
• Average (68-90 kilograms) – Most beds are made for the average sleeper, so you can choose the industry standard of medium firmness to give you the best support and comfort.
• Heavy (90+ kilograms) – Firmer beds help to provide better support, and heavier spring beds allow for better cooling.

Different people have different ways of sleeping, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, or even switching between different positions throughout the night:

• Side-sleepers experience a lot of discomfort and pain on their hip joints and their shoulders, so a medium soft bed allows for the equal distribution of pressure.
• Stomach sleepers need equal weight distribution to keep the spine from curving. Medium firm beds are a great choice here.
• Back sleepers benefit best from medium firm beds provide the best amount of support and contouring for the spine, and allow for proper support and structure.

3. Choose the right type and material.
This is where your personal preference and experience comes in when choosing the right bed. Different mattresses come with different types and materials, such as the following:

• Inner-spring – Springs are one of the most affordable options out there and are extremely durable. They also allow for greater air circulation.
• Latex – Great cooling and comfort, with a good bounce, responsiveness, and without any off-gassing and odors.
• Memory foam – Memory foam conforms to every inch of the body, but tends to retain heat.
• Hybrid – A combination of the three types, providing all-around support, bounce, and cooling, but easily the most expensive.