Can’t Sleep? Try Natural Ways to Get Your Snooze On!

by Sherrell Dorsey of Organic Beauty Vixen

Since living in the Big Apple for the past four years, I’ve come to understand one important thing: sleeping is a commodity. Meetings, events, grinding, pushing and hustling are part of the norm of living in this concrete jungle. Getting a good night sleep is definitely a luxury. And when I don’t get it, I can turn into quite the unpleasant person. My skin looks terrible and dehydrated, the dark circles under my eyes deepen and my entire body has no energy to perform the tasks that I need to get done. Does this sound like you? This past weekend, I got caught up on some much needed beauty rest. Although I still worried about managing projects, finishing articles for OBV and the other magazines I write for, and cleaning up my apartment, it was the greatest feeling in the world to spend an entire day sleeping!

Sometimes we can get bogged down by the daily stress of life. All of those things we worry about each day begin to stew in our psyche, and subconsciously we continue to worry, stress and keep ourselves from quality rest. It’s a dangerous cycle. Insomnia can lead to depression, heart disease as well as the inability to function at your top level. If you’re having problems sleeping, try some natural techniques to help conquer the pillow and protect your health.

1. Turn off the tube – I don’t even have a television in my room. Learn to keep your bedroom a sanctuary. Keep your room clean and clutter free so that you have a sense of peace before going to bed. Tune out the noises by turning off that glaring television!
2. Wear a sleeping mask – Keep out the light at night with some extra help. Wear a sleeping mask to get that quality shut-eye even when the sun begins to show its face.
3. Cut the coffee – I know you love it but caffeine can over stimulate your brain. Try having a cup before noon and drinking green tea throughout the day to keep your nerves calm.
4. Pamper yourself – It’s ok to take some you time before bed. Take a nice hot shower with natural fragrances like lavender which are calming. Spray the lavender on your pillows and sheets before bed.
5. Stretch – Work the kinks of the day out on a yoga mat before you retreat to your bed. Let your muscles relax and your mind focus solely on loosening your body.
6. Brain dump – If you are a worry wart like me, write down your to-do lists, complaints, stresses and worries down before you go to sleep. Let your journal have it so that all of those things that are dominating your thoughts can be transferred from your mind and onto that piece of paper. I like to do this especially when I have deadlines, events or projects that are getting close and my anxiety is at an all time high.

Try these methods out to get a good night sleep. If you are still having issues, consult your doctor about other options to help you.

Other resources:

8 Natural Remedies that May Help You Sleep

Have you had sleep issues in the past and solved them naturally? Please share your story with me about the methods you used.

Sherrell Dorsey is a natural beauty expert, writer, speaker and advocate of health, wellness and sustainability in communities of color. In addition to creating OrganicBeautyVixen.com, Sherrell writes beauty articles for Tyra Banks’s beauty and fashion site TypeF.com, Jones Magazine, MySalonScoop.com and Posh Beauty. Follow Sherrell on twitter at www.twitter.com/organicvixen and connect with her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OBVMedia.