sweet & sound.

Three months ago I packed my bags and left home to move into a local high school where I had taken a job. I thought I was just leaving behind my family and the house I'd lived in since I was 2 years old. Boy, was I wrong! Because as great of a packer as I am (even if I do say so myself), it seemed I had forgotten to pack sleep. Some nights it would take me up to three hours to fall asleep. And on nights when I was lucky enough to dose off straight after climbing into bed, my body's untimely alarm clock would go off like crashing symbols at 2am. So about three weeks ago, after almost three months of sleeplessness, I decided that I'd had it, and in my desperation took to the interwebs to find a solution. The first website I found told me that I needed to go to therapy (how fast did that escalate?) and that annihilated the little faith I had left in the internet and prompted me to put together my own list of ideas on how to get better sleep. Some of these things I've picked up in conversation or from my wise mother or from almost 23 years of life experience (LOL). Some of them I've tried and some I haven't. But here's a list of 10 tips and tricks for a night of that good old sweet and sound:

1. Drop that alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is not a sleep aid. Yes, a glass of wine might initially help you drift off, but it's probably also likely to disrupt your sleep patterns in the latter half of the night. 2. Set a bedtime. It might sound lame, but it's important to keep a consistent sleep and wake schedule, even on weekends. Yes, that means no sleeping in either. 3. “No coffee, no workee”. That might be true. But you know what else is true? Too much coffee, no sleepee. As a die hard coffee enthusiast who's always been proud of the fact that I can drink coffee at any time of the day, it pains me to admit it. As difficult and challenging as it might be, try to have your last cup in the early afternoon. 4. Milk it. There's something about warm milk that just soothes the soul and relaxes the body. That is, of course, unless you're lactose intolerant, like me. Then this will be a nightmare. But for those of you whose digestion game is a bit stronger try adding nutmeg or cinnamon or even a bit of honey to your milk to make it that much better – you won't regret it. 5. Lemme see you do that yoga. Or run. Or cycle. Or do pilates. We all know that exercise lowers your stress levels and makes you feel happier. It'll also tire your body out and have it begging for sleep by the time bedtime rolls in. 6. Atmosphere it up. Switch off all your electronics. Get the temperature just right. Throw on some fresh, clean linen. Play some smooth, soft sounds. Dim the lights. Snooze away. 7. Leave it in to soak for 20-30 minutes. Your body, that is. As in, take a bath. And make it hot. It'll wash all your worries away. Also, adding a few drops of lavender, chamomile or sandalwood oil to your bath can only help. 8. Read & Write. It's that simple. Both of these exercises will help you sort through your thoughts and relax your mind. 9. Clock-block. I've spent so many nights lying in bed, stress-levels rising because the hands on my alarm clock are racing away. Cover your alarm clock, or put it away. Lying there thinking about how soon you have to be up isn't going to help you fall asleep any quicker. 10. Take a hike. Or even just an afternoon stroll around your hood. Listen to the birds chirping and the leaves rustling. Take deep breaths. Woosah.

Sleep tight!

x

Andi

#sleep #sweetandsound #rest #dwell #slow #slowliving