We all have those nights where sleep just won’t come. Usually it is around a time when we have decisions to make, or we feel out of control in some way. The mind just won’t shut off and let us rest!
Of course, this then makes the situation worse because we can’t make good decisions when we are tired and grumpy.
We take sleep for granted in some ways, but string together a couple of nights where it is elusive and we quickly remember how vital it is to everything we do. We just can’t function at our best without it.
Natural remedies can help and are worth a try. Here are the five I like the most that have worked for me.
Is it really necessary to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night?
I hope not, because if so I’m in big trouble. If only I didn’t feel so fantastic when averaging 4-5, then I would consider worrying about it. But worrying would probably keep me up at night!
So who decided that all humans are the same and that our bodies operate under similar requirements?
There are nights where I wake up after 4 hours of sleep and just don’t feel the need to sleep more. I used to try to get more sleep, but then I began to wonder if it was truly necessary.
Then I started going with the flow, and I instantly felt better. I focused on the quality, not the quantity, and that made all of the difference.
I did a lot of research on this. While some studies insist that we need 8 hours, there have been many fully functioning human beings who didn’t come close to that.
Albert Einstein reportedly slept for 10 hours a night, and had naps during the day. I’m not going to argue with a genius about that!
Nikola Tesla, who was responsible for inventing the AC power that runs through your home, slept 2 hours a night. He would add a short nap during the day as needed.
And Leonardo Da Vinci practiced polyphasic sleep, which breaks down long periods of sleep into short intervals. Averaging about 5 hours in total, he would sleep from 20 minutes to 2 hours as needed.
It seems to me that there is no one size fits all.
I figure that as long as I wake up every morning and have lots of energy, then everything is as it should be!
5 Tips For Better Quality of Sleep
Keep your bedroom dark and cool
Don’t eat within 2 hours minimum of going to bed
Don’t drink too close to bed either. Experiment and see what keeps you in bed and not in the bathroom
If you enjoy the scent of lavender, spray a bit on your sheets and pillow
Don’t overstimulate your mind before bed. Take an electronic break and do whatever relaxes you. A soothing nighttime routine can make all the difference in the world!
