Comments on: How to Sleep Soundly

on 11/22/2005 If you wake in the night with all your daily duties and concerns spinning in your head, rather than lie there and obsess, get up and jot down a brief list. You can then rest easy - nothing will be overlooked in the morning.

on 11/22/2005 The bedroom is for sleeping and intimacy. If you go to bed before your mate, reading is good, but try not bring the television into the bedroom. Try to keep things consistent.

on 11/22/2005 Indigestion and sleep don't mix. I use a calcium-magnesium tablet and put a drop of lavender oil on my pillow. When alone, I like to play a Bach or Dave Brubeck recording on low.

on 11/22/2005 I don't watch TV or play on the computer before going to bed because it irritates my eyes. This makes me uncomfortable and more alert than I'd like to be before bedtime.

on 11/22/2005 Snuggle up with your pet. It is a well known fact that pets reduce blood pressure. By relaxing and hugging your pet, you will fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly because you are happy.

on 11/22/2005 Right as I'm drifting off, I try to think of pleasant things. Whether it's a romantic scenario or just a relaxing walk on a beach at night, I always have better dreams when I think of nice things before I doze.

on 11/22/2005 When I go to bed I make sure there's no noise. I close my eyes and get comfortable and think of the good things that I've done that day, week, or ever.

on 11/22/2005 Pick a peaceful, involving scene - I use a castle - build it in your mind one block at a time, then furnish and populate it. Clothe your inhabitants, stock the kitchens, etc. this not only gets me relaxed and off to sleep, but is good "dream fodder."

on 11/22/2005 Try listening to light music, classical, sounds of rain drops and rivers flowing, will help you sleep.

on 11/22/2005 I find by not using my bed for anything other than sleeping. My mind sends a messege to my body that bed is only for sleeping.

on 11/22/2005 Purchase a sleep mask in the health and beauty aisle of your local drug or discount store. These will help block out the light. Also, make sure to get a pair of industrial type earplugs, the kind used by factory workers for their ears.

on 11/22/2005 Follow the path of each breath you take. Take a deep breath through your nose and imagine it going over your head, down your spine, into your abdomen, filling your belly and finally out through your mouth. Do this a few times and you'll be so relaxed.

on 11/22/2005 Here's a good tip. What I do is I take a good hour to hour and a half each night and Rollerblade around my neighborhood. It gets me tired and it works! If you don't know how to Rollerblade, then take a 30-minute jog. Also listen to music.

on 11/22/2005 Eat a banana/drink a glass of 2% milk, then take a warm shower. After your shower lotion from head to toe with a very relaxing skin lotion that's cool and pleasant smelling. Set room temperature to a comfortable temperature.

on 11/22/2005 When lying down in bed, take about 25 deep slow breaths. Then exhale slowly and take 25 more breaths, but not as deep as the first 25. Exhale slowly, then take 25 shallow breaths until you relax into a wonderful sleep. It works for me.