Northern Hills Magazine 2015 Easter Issue | Page 37

8 Go to Your Happy Place This is one of my favourite sleep strategies. If you are having a tough time drifting off to slumber land, then just go to your happy place. All you need to do is picture yourself on a beach, in a garden or in the forest (or wherever you feel comfortable and happy). Once you get here, you want to stimulate at least three senses, so take the time to watch the clouds drift by, smell the flowers and listen to the birds chirping in the background. After spending a little bit of time focusing on the characteristics of your happy place, you will begin to relax and before you know it, you will be fast asleep. 9 Smell Your Way To Sleep There are certain types of essential oils such as lavender, ylang-ylang and chamomile that activate the alpha waves in your brain (this is good for sleeping). Spray a little bit of this sleep-inducing scent in your room or put a dab or two on your pillow and sniff your way to a nice slumbering sleep. 10 Stay in Bed The old adage states that if you can’t fall asleep in 15 minutes, then you should get out of bed. If you are not stressed and agitated, then throw this advice out the window. If you are feeling comfortable and relaxed then just lie there and practice your breathing or some of the other techniques mentioned above. If you are feeling agitated and stressed then it might do you some good to get out of bed and do something quiet and relaxing, under a dim light. Going on Facebook does not count as quiet and relaxing. Instead, try doing some Yoga or give yourself a nice relaxing massage until you feel sleepy. Then head back to bed and try to fall asleep. Quotes: page 1 “Good old reverse psychology works on 6 year old and your egocentric brain“ Quotes: page 2 “They claim that you will be fast asleep within 7 minutes “ IMAGES: 123RF.COM “CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO STAY AWAKE AND WATCH YOUR BRAIN REBEL AGAINST YOU. TRY TO KEEP OUR EYES WIDE OPEN AND KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL NOT FALL ASLEEP.”