WAYS TO SHUT OFF YOUR BRAIN

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12 Ways to Shut Off Your Brain Before Bedtime

By Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/12-ways-to-shut-off-your-brain-before-bedtime

For many of us, the brain begins buzzing as soon as it’s time for bed.  We might experience racing thoughts that keeps gnawing at us.  According to Lawrence Epstein, M.D., chief medical officer of Sleep HealthCenters and instructor in medicine at Harvard University, we can “create the right associations” to help us sleep well.

WAYS TO SHUT OFF YOUR BRAIN

Realize sleep is essential sleep deprivation can increase your risk for health problems such as hypertension, stroke and diabetes

Have a regular sleep schedule the greatest promoter of being able to sleep is being in sync with your internal clock

Create a pre-sleep routine winding down before bed is one of the best ways to get your sleep back on track For instance, if you read before heading to bed, your body knows that reading at night signals sleep time. If you take a warm bath before bed every night, your body recognizes that it’s time to slow down and relax

Write down your worries — earlier in the day

Use your bed for sleep and intimacy

Create an optimal environment

Busy your brain with mental exercises helps your brain focus away from your worries

Focus on the positive focus on good memories and happy events

Practice relaxation exercises

Participate in physical activities Exercising regularly helps with sleep also a major anxiety-reducer

Think about what’s stealing your sleep and boosting your anxiety people just don’t realize that caffeine’s effects can last four to seven hours remember that tea and chocolate contain caffeine

See a sleep specialist sleep disorders such as insomnia can be treated in as little as several sessions and don’t require medication

Remember that sleep is a priority in your life.  It helps you perform at your best and be healthy.