It’s already been quite the year – still-rising COVID-19 cases, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and continued social isolation amidst a dark, cold winter. The stress has continued to mount and you need to arm yourself with tools to stay healthy from the inside, out.
Good sleep is the key to help you relax and restore your body and mind. Many natural sleep remedies are available and research shows they can help you get the quality zzz’s your body needs.
Read on as alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra shares his tips for a good night’s sleep, so you can start 2021 off with your best foot forward.
Supplement your sleep
Consider a natural supplement like cannabidiol (CBD) or melatonin to aid your slumber. “All of the evidence seems to indicate that a lot of people respond very well to CBD as a sleeping aid,” says Chopra of the oil derived from the hemp plant. “CBD can also help address inflammation in the body, so I recommend it as an aid to both help with inflammation in the body and help with sleep.”
Add in another popular sleep supplement, melatonin, a hormone that triggers sleep.
“A dose of melatonin — even 1 milligram — along with CBD can help restore circulation rhythms,” he says.
CBD may benefit people with occasional restlessness, as well as helping you both fall asleep and stay asleep.
Soothing aromas
The wellness guru says certain floral and fruity scents in nature, may help relieve sleep woes. He says lavender can help “calm the mind.” Small studies have shown that smelling lavender improved sleep quality and duration among participants.
Set the scene
Create a space that’s ideal for a good sleep.
“A room that is totally dark and sound free with no blue light, such as mobile phones, tablets, and electrical devices, always helps,” says Chopra.
Research shows exposure to blue light from devices disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm and suppresses melatonin production.
Be mindful
Practice mindfulness such as daily vigorous exercise and meditation before bed. Both promote quality sleep.
“Silently watching your breath at the same time, and breathing through the nose will slow down breathing and thought activity simultaneously,” Chopra says, “allowing you to dive into the silence and peace of sleep.”