Thursday, September 25, 2008

Tips to promote sleep without taking medications

When we are worried about jobs, money, our health, families, or friends it can be difficult to relax and go to sleep. It seems impossible when we are over-worked, over-tired, over-stressed, and need sleep the most, to access it.

Here are a few tips to help promote relaxation and go to sleep without the use of medications.

  1. Drink plenty of water during the day time.
  2. Limit alcohol intake.
  3. Write down a list of things that need to be dealt with the next day.
  4. Read something light before bed or if sleep is interrupted to help shift the mind away from pressing issues.
  5. Find a comfortable position in bed and concentrate on relaxing muscles starting with the toes and working your way up to the head.
  6. Practice being still.
  7. Adjust the blankets so you are not too hot or too cold.
  8. Soak the feet in warm water then massage them with moisturizing cream.
  9. Use a microwave heating pad to help relax tense neck, back, and leg muscles.
  10. If necessary, get up in the night to do a few of the things that need doing in order get them off your mind and to relax. Make sure it is for no more than an hour.

Woman relaxing with a Panda Bear microwave heating pad from Maine WarmersMaine Warmers'  Panda Bear bed & body warmer is just the thing to help relax tense muscles. A Cozy Sheep, like all of their microwave heating pads, placed on the feet will deliver ultimate relaxation. Because these heating pads don't look medicinal, both will decorate a bed when not in use.