I participated in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central for Pernix Therapeutics. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
A little over a month ago I wrote about some great shut-eye strategies for a great night’s sleep. As part of that article I pledged that I would be applying these four strategies for 30 days and document how it has affected my sleep.
GET ACTIVE EARLY: Do you think getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t just start when the sun sets? It starts so much earlier than that. What you do during the day will also affect your sleep. I always start out my day with exercise to ensure I will be as sleepy as possible come nightfall.
GET COMFORTABLE: Now it’s time to remind your body to wind down. We always hear how kids need a bedtime routine to get them use to going to bed at the same time, and as adults we need the same thing. A warm bath every several nights or relaxation music really helps transition my body and mind into sleep mode.
SIGN OFF: This one is huge! In this day in age when we can have multiple electronic devices, they can become a huge distraction at night. Put away your electronic devices one hour before you head to bed. Even the lights from a tablet can keep your brain awake. I hear all the time from friends that they need to watch a show to wind down and settle into sleep and the truth is that this tactic is just more harmful. Turn off all those pesky distractions to get some peaceful shut-eye.
GO DARK: Time to block out any light. Light and darkness are reminders that tell your body when it’s time to rest and wake. Light during the night can send messages to the brain telling you to “wake up!” before you’re ready. Make sure you get every little light, total darkness will assists in helping you fall asleep sooner and stay asleep.
Doing these four things made a huge difference and I almost immediately noticed a better overall sleep. In just one week I felt more refreshed, happier and well rested. I started with signing off of social media an hour before going to bed, this was not an easy habit to form. I am so used to be online at night. I actually had to set an alarm as a reminder to make sure I stuck with this one. After about a week I started to get in more of a habit with it, although I have to admit that at times I had a hard time not cheating. I would be lying in bed and start to wonder if there was something I missed or maybe someone posted something I needed to check on. It was crazy! You never realize how much bad habits are affecting you until you try to stop them. I am really happy that it's something I stuck with because now I don't have a million things running through my head while I am trying to sleep; it's great! I also make sure I leave everything on my work desk, nothing belongs in my bedroom anymore. My room is completely free of any distractions.
My kids even noticed a difference in my attitude. After following the above strategies my sleep had greatly improved and my attitude and outlook were improved as well. Most people would agree that these are great strategies and yet most would only follow one. Make sure that you are trying all of the strategies above to get the best results.
Now keep in mind those with insomnia these strategies might not completely help. There are great options though for those that suffer with insomnia, one option is SILENOR®
SILENOR® is a great prescription sleep aid that helps those suffering from insomnia or someone that has trouble staying asleep.
If you are wondering “what’s so different about SILENOR?” It’s that SILENOR works with the wake-promoting mechanism of the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, while other sleep aids work on the sleep-promoting system. Working with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle helps patients stay asleep throughout the night and early morning. The best part is that it can be used regularly and it’s not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence.
To learn more about how to get a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep visit Wanttosleepmore.com
SILENOR® ISI: SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem. Be sure that you are able to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. SILENOR® should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. Do not take with alcohol or with other medicines that can make you sleepy. If you are on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken a MAOI within the past two weeks, you should not take SILENOR®. You should not take SILENOR® if you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma that is not being treated, if you have severe urinary retention, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SILENOR®. You should not drive or operate machinery at night after taking SILENOR®. Until you know how you will react to SILENOR®, you should be careful in performing such activities during the day following taking SILENOR®. Before you take SILENOR®, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, mental illness or suicidal thoughts. You should call your doctor right away if after taking SILENOR® you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. Drowsiness is the most common adverse event observed in clinical trials. For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, at https://www.silenor.com/Content/pdf/prescribing-information.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
