| If it is one thing that I have consistently struggled | | | | bookmarking a website that plays a thirty minute, |
| with on and off for the past few years; it's my sleep | | | | continuous loop of rain/thunderstorms. It's a great |
| (or lack of it). Without a doubt, getting a sufficient | | | | way to help relax and unwind, thus helping me fall |
| amount of sleep is one of the most important | | | | asleep. However, I still needed to find out what was |
| aspects of leading a healthy lifestyle and warding off | | | | causing me all of the sleeping problems. As it turns |
| diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and | | | | out, stress and anxiety are two of the major factors |
| Alzheimer's (to name a few). If this is the case | | | | affecting people to the point where it disturbs or |
| though, then why are so many of us struggling to | | | | interrupts their sleeping cycle. Not only this, but |
| get our beauty rest? | | | | apparently, those who are extremely stressed or |
| While there are many theories, some of which claim | | | | who experience stress fairly easily also have a much |
| that the human body doesn't really need a full eight | | | | shorter lifespan than those who aren't as stressed |
| hours of sleep in order to function, the fact of the | | | | (or who know how to manage stress). The bottom |
| matter is that our bodies need to get the proper | | | | line is that you need to make sure that you are |
| amount of rest in order to properly function the next | | | | getting sufficient sleep each night. For some, this |
| day. Someone who is sleep deprived is a person who | | | | means turning on a fan in order to create some |
| cannot think straight. It is someone who moves | | | | white noise, while for others it means meditation, |
| through their day like a zombie- not really utilizing their | | | | yoga or deep breathing exercises. |
| full potential to effectively get things done. For | | | | One thing that you should not do if you are having |
| example, recently, I did not get nearly enough sleep | | | | trouble sleeping is any sort of activity that is going to |
| and I knew it. After staying up all night long until 6 | | | | stimulate your brain too much. Some of the worst |
| o'clock the next morning, I had only gotten a total of | | | | culprits for this include the computer and the |
| two hours worth of sleep. The next day, I was | | | | television. Before going to bed, prepare your body |
| groggy, irritable and out of sorts. I also experienced | | | | for sleep by reading a decent book. I say 'decent' |
| stomach issues, felt slightly lightheaded, had no | | | | here because, again, you don't want to get involved |
| appetite and was actually falling asleep at the | | | | in a story line that is so compelling that it won't allow |
| keyboard by my computer. | | | | you to put the book down. This is also the reason |
| Concerned, I tried various relaxation therapies, the | | | | why people tend to shy away from television; |
| latest of which has included going on the Internet and | | | | because the television show is too good! |