The Better Sleep

For my new years resolution, I am going to do my best to sleep better. My hope is to not only get a good sleep but get the most of my day. These are the steps in which I hope to do this.

1. Practice yoga daily. I am a fan of yoga and I try to do it everyday but because my schedule is a little shaky. And I never know how I am going to feel from one day to the next. I hope I can get a normal schedule for it.

2. Meditate before I go to bed. I usually meditate in the morning but I find it more relaxing than energizing. It certainly lowers stress. But everyday is still different.

3. Stay away from caffine. This is a tough one. I need a green tea to get going in the morning. Then I have a diet coke in the afternoon since I have a paying job that is very physical. I need the energy that caffine provides. I try not to touch anything caffineated after 4 PM. It can get a little difficult when you have to work late.

4. Read something. This is something I really should be doing. I listen to the TV before I go to bed. I hear that is a mistake but it's the only thing I can do to not get anxious. It's true that I have some issues where my mind just refuses to rest when I go to sleep at night. Because of that it takes me a long time to fall alseep and therefore I don't have enough energy in the day. Reading, might be the cure.

5. Listen to soothing music. Since I like listening to things. This might be a good if not easier alternative to watching TV. I can't stand silence. It makes me nervous and all I do is listen to my own mind trail on and on. Not the greatest thing when you are trying to sleep.

6. Set an alarm. This is what I have the most trouble with. I am such a sound sleeper that I can sleep through a hurricane. That is what my closest friend and travel companion tells me. I also sleep long so there are days when I sleep 12 hours when I go to bed early enough. Like clockwork, I find myself waking up at 9 AM. I need a better sleep system where I should be getting up at least 7 AM.

7. Take up journaling...again. It is a soothing thing to do but sadly, I don't always have the time. I journal when I travel but that is it. I write all the time. Short stories, business critiques, travel articles. So journaling just doesn't fit into my life very much. I did it alot when I was a kid but now that I am making a career out of writing, it's a little different.

The funny thing is I never really thought too much about getting a better sleep in the past. It's always just something that I thought would sort itself out. It's only until I've read alot of blogs posts and magazine articles talking about why sleep is important a couple of years ago. It makes alot of sense.

You feel great after a good sleep. I can't say that I am too sorry that I sacrifice other things for sleep. Even the items on that lovely list above. It's important to have a rested mind and body. It's easy for you to lose sight of your health. So lets face it. Get a good nights rest.