If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances are you don't need to be told that there's a significant connection between sleep problems like insomnia and stress. In fact, as cases of insomnia and related sleep problems increase, more and more people find themselves caught between the pressures and responsibilities of daily life and their desire for a good night's sleep.
The good news is that insomnia and stress don't have to go hand in hand. There are a variety of productive ways that you can reduce stress and increase your chances of getting a good night's sleep at the same time.
If you have already taken the basic steps necessary for a good night's sleep (the 5 steps to better sleep outlined in my previous article and published here), the chances are you're suffering from stress-induced insomnia, and it's time for you to take action. That's because anxiety of any kind has quantifiable physiological effects such as increasing your blood pressure, your heart rate and your body temperature ? which in turn disrupt your body's natural propensity for sleep and disturb your body's nightly sleep functions. In other words, anxiety doesn't just reduce the amount of sleep you are able to get - it damages the quality of the sleep that you do enjoy.
Fortunately, you can reduce stress and improve your sleep fairly simply by undertaking some form of regular relaxation exercise. Depending upon your preference and your degree of stress, there are several different ways to improve your sleep quality through relaxation.
For some people all it takes to reduce stress is a warm bath and some sleep-promoting aromatherapy. Using calming aromatherapy candles or adding soothing essential oils to your bath are the perfect way to diffuse anxiety and induce the sleep you need after a long day.
If you find yourself suffering from more severe stress and insomnia, you may also want to try a guided relaxation or meditation exercise to promote a good night's sleep. This can be as simple as spending fifteen to thirty minutes sitting comfortably in silence, or as involved as using a specially prepared CD or DVD for a more structured meditation that guides you gently towards sleep. Taking an afternoon yoga class or learning some deep breathing exercises are also excellent natural sleep remedies.
The best approach to including any sleep enhancing relaxation exercise (from sleep-inducing aromatherapy to guided meditation) is to try one approach for at least two weeks and see how you get on. Because your body responds best to routine ? especially when it comes to sleep ? this will give your sleep cycle a chance to properly adjust. If, after a couple of weeks you find that your chosen approach is having little effect, don't despair. Simply try another approach until you find a method that works best for you.
It won't take long for you to discover a relaxation exercise that suits your needs and the chances are you'll both reduce stress and be enjoying a long, restful night's sleep sooner, rather than later.
Copyright ? 2005 Donald Saunders
Attention Ezine Editors / Website Owners
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website so long as you leave all links intact, do not modify the content and include the resource box shown below. You may of course use your own affiliate link in the resource box.
For details of our affiliate program, please visit our website.
Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies", "Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach", "Shift Work Insomnia" and "The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques"
For further details please visit http://help-me-to-sleep.com
Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
Today's workplace produces plenty of stress. Life's little hassles mount... Read More
Don't wait to have a life-threatening disease to learn what... Read More
Deadlines at work, demanding bosses, bills to be paid at... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important for our general health and... Read More
My grandmother, a feisty and athletic woman in her younger... Read More
Traffic jams. Toddler tantrums. Deadlines at work. Money troubles. Too... Read More
Modern stress is habitual, and is something that the vast... Read More
Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today's... Read More
I'm sure you have heard of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome,... Read More
One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is... Read More
Breathing is the vital force of life. It is considered... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
While free-lancing for business magazines, I was assigned to write... Read More
One of the best ways to combat stress and depression... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
When something happens in our lives, we automatically assess the... Read More
Stress is the nastiest 4 letter word you ever met.... Read More
Let's take a look at some of the more serious... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
My son was watching a Richard Scarry video this morning... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Glencoe ..Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone... Read More
Stress and anxiety can prematurely age our mind and body.... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
Do you have the desire for a stress free life?... Read More
First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
Have you been feeling so stressful and almost losing your... Read More
26 ways to minimize and manage the unhealthy effects of... Read More
Do you have stress in your life?......I know you answered... Read More
We function at our best when we are free from... Read More
"When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe,... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great... Read More
I'm sure you have heard of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome,... Read More
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More
Voice: Bill!Bill: I thought I heard a voice.Voice: Bill! This... Read More
With how busy we keep ourselves on a day to... Read More
Part 1: Recognize the importance of family stress managementJoe and... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
Stressed? Relax Right Now with 5 Super-Simple Stress-BustersStressed-out? Don't know... Read More
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More
Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More
Who hasn't experienced "worry" at one time or another? Almost... Read More
Stress. The word brings to mind many different definitions doesn't... Read More
Stress Management |