How to get to sleep

Sleep..or the lack of it causes all kinds of issues. There may be several reasons why you can't sleep and Googling 'how to get to some sleep', will provide you with hundreds of ways to help you sleep more soundly. Good luck trying to wade through them all to find something that works!

You may have tried to create a worry list so its on paper and out of your head, you may have eaten protein before you go to bed; you may have tried, switching off your mobile, wifi and laptop. You may have tried putting on some relaxing music or hypnotherapy CD; you may have tired herbal remedies or going to bed at the same time...the list is endless.

Without adequate rest you'll...be knackered. 

We often think about what we eat, how much we exercise and the like, but often we forget just how important sleep is for our health and well-being too.

Why do we sleep?

The rule of though is that we need sleep gives our bodies a chance to heal and repair itself as well as play a significant role in brain development.

According to a BBC Science and Nature report: "With continued lack of sufficient sleep, the part of the brain that controls language, memory, planning and sense of time is severely affected, practically shutting down. In fact, 17 hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (two glasses of wine). This is the legal drink driving limit in the UK".

Umm, sleep is really important then!

Studies show that the lack of sleep impairs our ability to think straight and has been linked to stress and high blood pressure.

Research has also linked the lack of sleep to an increase in obesity because chemicals and hormones that play a vital role in controlling appetite and weight gain are released during sleep.

How much sleep do you need?

There is no set amount. In a nut shell, you need to sleep enough so you aren't shattered throughout the day. Easier said then done when you have a racing mind that won't shut up!

Basically, anywhere between 5-11 hours. Personally, I make do with around 5.5 to 6 hours every night, whereas you might need 7 or 8. We are all different and just need to find the right number of hours.

Ok, so how does one get to sleep when you can't sleep?

As an advocate of all things natural, I don't recommend sleeping tablets because they can be become very addictive so you'll end up dependent on them. I know there are others who have tried herbal remedies (I have too) and they don't work. It got the stage where I just gave up and accepted my rubbish sleeping patterns. It became my norm not to sleep properly.

Thankfully, I came across a natural solution. Now I sleep through the night (except when I need to get up to go to the loo!). 

Let's put it this way. I didn't realize just how bad my sleeping habits where until I slept though the night.

So whether you keep waking up or you are not able to nod off in the first place, this stuff really works!