Here Are Some More Suggestions to Help You to Get to Sleep, Naturally
Be regular in your habits
This includes the routine you use to get ready for bed and sleep. We do this with children all the time. We start getting them ready for bed, have them brush their teeth and put on their "jammies." Then we pray, sometimes read them a bed time story and tuck them in. Each one of these steps is part of a routine that triggers a conditioned response that the body and brain respond to by bringing on drowsiness and relaxation.
Are we not our Father's children?
Avoid too much stimulation.
Don't try to do something difficult or taxing before bed. Studying just before bed may make your brain too active. Reading something light or watching a television show that is light may be okay, but don't involve yourself in anything that could cause stimulation.
Take a warm bath and let your muscles relax. It has been shown that a warm bath relaxes and soothes while a shower stimulates, so make it a bath.
Keep a list.
Whether you realize it or not, your mind has different parts. As I said before, it is one of our creators’ greatest creations. He gave us a subconscious mind that takes care of tasks behind the scenes so we don't have to consciously think of everything. Our memory functions on a subconscious level at times. If you have tasks or chores you need to remember, at a subconscious level your mind is active.
The best way to relieve it of this stress and activity is to keep a "to-do" list, right beside you bed. Tell yourself that you will write down anything that is important and will need to be done. If it isn't important enough to be on the list, to have been brought to your attention by your subconscious mind, then there is no need to try to remember.
Allow your subconscious to rest as well and relieve it of its responsibility. Keeping a good list is the most conscientious and responsible thing you can do. Once you've made that list, free yourself of the thought. Remember Jesus's words, "Take ye therefore no thought for the morrow, for sufficient unto the day are the problems thereof."
Stretch those muscles and relieve tension.
Stretch your muscles to relieve tension. Relieving muscle tension is a great way to prepare for bed, just remember to keep it gentle and soothing. I highly recommend the active or passive progressive relaxation on the MP3's. All you have to do is listen and follow along.
Should you eat before bedtime?
Each one's body is different, so you will have to experiment with this to find out what works best for you. Some sleep experts recommend eating two light meals earlier in the day and making your third meal the biggest meal. That is all right, but we recommend you do not eat within 3-4 hours of bed time.
Some people say warm milk helps them to sleep. There is tryptophan in milk and milk is an amino acid that causes the brain to secrete serotonin, a neuro-transmitter that induces sleepiness. Carbohydrates may do the same thing, however, so if you are lactose intolerant, a piece of whole wheat toast or even a little granola may have the same effect.
Obviously, anything with caffeine is a bad choice before bed time. But start thinking ahead by eliminating anything with caffeine many hours before bed time. Other foods that contain caffeine are chocolate, colas and some other sodas, tea, etc.
Alcohol is another culprit in the poor sleep category. It may seem to cause drowsiness, but it actually disrupts sleep patterns. If you have any issues with insomnia, cutting out alcohol is a good place to start getting back to a good sleep pattern and routine.
Sleeping pills and other medication.
If you are taking sleeping pills or any prescription medications, you should consult your doctor about the possible side effects of the medication. Even though you may decide to use the Christian sleep aids found on this site, you should still consult your doctor and follow his or her advice regarding medical issues and medication.
Your loving Father in heaven wants you to sleep and to be rested, so I refuse no one. I offer you this help no matter whether you can pay for it or not. All I ask is that you donate what you can, if you can, and then take the time to use these special Christian sleep aids. The specially engineered guided meditations include a prayer, some simple Bible truths explained with the related Bible verses, and beautiful music. I ask for a donation to continue my work, but whether you can pay or not, please take the time to download the MP3 files or listen to them right from the page where you will find them.
Click here for the Christian Sleep Guide ....... Click here for the Christian Bed Time Story
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