Whenever I need my sleep the most — whether it's when I'm stressed or overtired — is when I have the most difficulty falling asleep. And we all know that not getting enough sleepy time is a recipe for disaster. It's frustrating to say the least, and I feel like I've tried every tip and trick to relax and calm my mind, from hot baths and reading, to taking melatonin and drinking herbal teas. Do you have any tried, tested, and true tricks that work for you? Now it's time to take a closer look at some remedies to see if they actually work!
- Counting Sheep: As fun as it is to imagine furry sheep while lying in bed, this old wives' tale technique of helping you fall asleep is actually a myth. A study at Oxford University showed that people who counted sheep (compared to those who did nothing at all) actually took longer to fall asleep. What they did find though is that visualization of a relaxing scene helped insomniacs fall asleep 20 minutes sooner. Researchers believe that counting sheep is ineffective because it's too boring and participants stop counting. In comparison, imagining yourself on a tropical island is engaging enough to concentrate on until we tire ourselves out. A separate study showed that insomniacs usually focus on worries before bed, and things they did during the day. Which is why it's important to really wind down and focus on positive, calming thoughts.
