Do you have a hard time getting a good nights sleep? Do you wake up feeling tired and fatigued? Are you often searching for a natural sleep aid? I hope some of these suggestions help you.

I am going to cover some of the reasons why sleep is so important and then give some tips that will hopefully be helpful. But first, I want to talk a bit about how sleep effects our entire being and how we are in this world.

Why is Sleep So Important?

Many people don’t realize how important sleep is. It is restorative. It gives your body time to heal and effects your immune systems ability to do its job. When we don’t get enough sleep, especially quality sleep, our immune system can become tired too. Sleep deprivation can result in being more prone to illness. People who are sleep deprived often catch more colds and when they do, they last longer. Unfortunately, this can start a cycle where a person can’t sleep well because they are sick. Occasionally, when we are sick, all we can do is sleep and that can be our body sending us a message that it needs to call in all of our resources to fight a virus or whatever it is we are going through. This is the time to allow ourselves to crawl into a comfy nest and sleep as best we are able.

Another challenge with  sleep deprivation is the loss of concentration. Have you ever been so tired you can’t think straight? It’s a thing! It is hard to think clearly when our body and minds are exhausted. Sometimes, if it is possible, it’s better to take a nap and then try to do what you are struggling to stay focused on. It’s like my dad used to say, “you can chop more wood with a sharp ax.” Trying to work when you are exhausted can take much longer and leave you with a poor result. Of course, sometimes we don’t have a choice. Life is just what it is so if the baby has you up all night and your can’t find the your cell phone because you put it in the diaper pail in the middle of the night, hang in there. I’ve been there. Ewww.

Sleep also effects our skin. Not getting enough sleep actually ages the appearance of our skin. It can lead to or contribute to puffy eyes, sallow complexion and if it is a chronic issue, it can lead to fine lines and dark circles under the eyes. People who lose a lot of sleep tend to have a lack of that “glow” that so many of us are seeking.You can use a products like SongCroft Naturals Exfoliate and it will help, but there is nothing like a good nights sleep.

Tips for a Good Nights Sleep

Set a bedtime

Really. Set a goal for the time you want to be in bed and commit to it. Even better, create a bedtime ritual that you enjoy and you can benefit even further from practicing. I do a whole skin care routine at night. I cleanse my face using our Fresh Face Cleanser, tone with Frankincense and Rose Toner and then moisturize with After a few nights, you might start to feel so much more alert that you have more energy to get whatever it was that you thought you had to stay up late to do. Spray a little of our Lavender Dreams  in the bedroom. massage some on to the bottoms of your feet. This is very popular in many medicinal herb practices. It can be very relaxing to some people.

Slow down and unplug a couple hours before bedtime

You don’t need to go into a sensory depravation tank or anything but at least consider lowering lights. Unplugging from the computer. Refraining from any action movies or games that can get your adrenaline pumping. Speaking of adrenaline, do not do work outs at night unless your whole schedule is flipped from the norm.  Consider using our Rescue Me Aromatherapy Spray to help you transition to a calmer and less hectic time.

Exercise earlier in the day

Take a walk, pump weights, do yoga or whatever floats your boat. Even light exercise is better than none.

Take a bath

Claim this time for you. I avoid reading books during this time because I have a hard time putting a good one down! Magazines and articles are a much better read for me in the bath. Epsom salt can be especially relaxing, candle light is soothing and quiet is priceless. 

Consider your sleep environment

Is your bed comfortable? Do you have a good pillow? Would blackout curtains be helpful? How about creating a sanctuary with calming colors and comforting textiles?

These are just a few tips. There are many others out there. If you are really sleep challenged, it might be worth seeing a healthcare provider in case you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by all sorts of things and they can address that with you if necessary.

I hope this article has been helpful to you. 

Until next time, be well-

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