There is nothing worst than being unable to fall back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Well, actually there are far worst things, like being stuck in an elevator with a men with uncontrollable flatulence, but I think you understand the point I am trying to make.
You can feel the fatigue all over your body but cannot find a single z. That was me last night. Imagine the joy I felt today when I stumbled upon an article on how to fall asleep and stay asleep. I was actually reading this month's Bazaar for the second time during my morning commute, tearing out interesting articles like the one on Donatella Versace and going over this fall's hottest trends. This article did not catch my eye the first time I glanced over page 206 but this morning was different. Here is what it said:
FALL ASLEEP AND STAY ASLEEP
- Reveille repetition: "Going to bed at the same time is good, but it's better to have a set rising time,"says J. Kirby Pate, a Nashville sleep specialist.
- Don't panic if you wake up: "We sleep in about 90-minute cycles, and it's not unusual to rise after the second," explains Pate. "After four to five hours, sleep is not particularly restful. You may wake up a few times, but you'll typically go right back to sleep."
- Keep dreaming: Find yourself half awake at 2.00am? Woodson Merrell, chairman of integrative medicine at New York's Beth Israel Medical Center, advises, "As you are coming to consciousness, hold on to your dream. Don't let other thoughts come in." Or take a few Boiron Quietude homeopathic tablets ($10.79), which won't make you drowsy later.
-Passing out isn't sleeping: Alcohol may help you conk out, but you're likely to wake up and not be able to get into deep slumber.
- Take a dip: At least an hour before bed, take a bath with scented salts or calming lavender oil. Try Origins Calm to Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla Milk Bath ($17.50) or Jo Malone Amber & Lavender Bath Oil ($65).
- Save the meds for jet lag: "It's safe to say that prescriptions (the big three: Lunesta, Ambien, and Sonata) aren't chemically addictive, but you can become psychologically dependent," notes Pate.
- Check out Valerian: "It's like an herbal sleeping pill," says Merrell.
Hope one of these can work for me tonight. I read it all so you don't have to!
Sleep tight.
Love, Kelie
