Have you tried counting sheep, drinking warm milk, and listening to whale songs until you can know the difference between the sound of an orca and a beluga and you still can’t fall asleep?
Maybe it's not your biological clock that's keeping the Sandman away. It could be that elements of your life that are in disarray. Check out these six tips for sleeping better if you’re one of the millions that toss and turn at bedtime each night.
Know where you’re going
The future is always uncertain, but setting goals makes the unknown a bit more tangible. When you have goals to progressively work toward achieving, you then have a map directing you to where you want to be. Although unexpected challenges and bumps in the road are certain to arise, you will sleep better at night knowing that you have a plan.
Bend a little
Since life is unpredictable, being able to react with flexibility and open-mindedness when a curveball is thrown your way is essential to living -- and sleeping -- well. Having a plan is necessary, but you can’t react with shock and awe when things don’t go as you expected. Build room into your goals for unforeseen challenges and your worries will no longer be able to keep you up at night.
Make sound decisions
You've heard of buyer's remorse -- the guilt a consumer feels when he purchases something he later regrets. The truth is, any kind of remorse, buyer’s or otherwise, can affect your sleep patterns.
When you feel guilty about a decision you made during waking hours, that decision will certainly haunt you when you lay your head down to sleep.
That is why it is important to make sound decisions based on solid logic and reasoning. Impulsive actions are often the ones that cause the most grief, so you should avoid making large leaps on the spur of the moment.
Though it is impossible to predict the results of every action, if you take care to think things through before acting, you can feel secure in knowing you did everything possible to ensure a positive outcome.
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Don’t fret about finances
Money is one of the most stressed-over subjects among career-minded adults, but, as Cyndi Lauper sang, Money isn't everything.
Being smart about how you manage your money, including knowing when to say enough is enough, is a great way to schedule some surefire z’s.
Whether you have the luxury of working only part-time, or whether you must work a 50-hour week to pay the bills, you have to be at peace with what’s in your wallet at the end of the day.
Maybe you can’t put a down payment on the house of your dreams just yet, but with diligence and some spending smarts, you might achieve that goal in a year’s time. Meanwhile, don’t let your bank account balance dictate the amount of rest you get.
Cut out the drama
There's a reason Hollywood drama queens need professional makeup artists -- to cover up the dark circles under their eyes that result from getting no sleep!
High-drama celebrities might be able to last on four hours of sleep per night, but if drama in your life is allowing you only 20 instead of 40 winks, it may be time to ask what all the fuss is about.
There's no denying that drama can be exciting, but it is also mentally draining. Seek out the source of your dramatic vibes and seriously consider whether it’s worth keeping in your life.
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Put off today what can wait until tomorrow
Fact: There are only 24 hours in a day. If you attempt to spend 20 of those hours being productive or even worrying about how you weren’t productive enough, it’s sure to cause turmoil in your sleep life.
When you feel overwhelmed with the amount of things you have to accomplish in a short period of time, that’s when you must prioritise. What must be done immediately, and what can wait?
When you decide what can be put off, commit to that decision! Losing sleep over what you haven’t yet accomplished is just as bad as trying to cram too many things into too little time.
Though physical stressers are often the culprits when it comes to lack of sleep, emotional and mental dilemmas can play a huge factor in your sleep life as well. Next time your lavender-vanilla aromatherapy spray isn’t helping you drift off to dreamland, consider evaluating your life using the above factors and attempt to get a better rest the next night.
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