How to get a good night's sleep ...

Copyright Paul Roth 2009 Creative Commons

Parenting, work shifts, too much work, pain, difficulty breathing, caffeine, alcohol, indigestion, anxiety, grief, snoring, cramp, uncomfortable bed, noise.  There's so much that can disturb your sleep!

And once it's disturbed it can be so hard to get back into a rhythm.

My sleep has really gone down hill since becoming a mother - I'm exhausted but can't get to sleep - so I've been in search of tips that might help me drop off.

This is a list of the 35 best tips that I've found and that I am trying to put into practice ...

A few too many!

Copyright ExistAngst 2011 Creative Commons

It's so easy in winter to drink just a little too much - the cold, Christmas!

And then, there's summer - the sun, holidays!

And then, there's everything life throws at us in between and before you know it those units are really adding up to just too much ...

But, I want more energy.  I want to be firing on as many cylinders as I have got.  I don't want to feel tired, irritable, guilty and in need of another drink!

Core Strength

Copyright Relaxing Music 2012 Creative Commons

I've had intermittent bouts of sciatica for 10 years now.

As a mum, it seems to go with the job - pregnancy, carrying children and lack of exercise all take their toll on the back.

And over the last few months with Christmas and the cold weather all real exercise has gone out of the window.

I am going to start gently with lots of walking.  But I know I must build up my core strength if I want to avoid those periods of being bent over with the pain

Is it only skin deep?

The sky is grey.  The wind is raw.  And my skin feels the same!

It is partly vanity that is horrified by what I see in the mirror in the morning.  But also a suspicion that what I see on the outside reflects what is going on inside.

Obviously, the long term solution is a well balanced diet with plenty of Omega 3, Lycopne, Folic Acid, Anti-Oxidants, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, low fat protein and water!

But where oh where to start, without spending the whole week planning & cooking meals?

Kicking the caffeine

Copyright Roger Price 2007 Creative Commons

Back last year, I kicked the caffeine but it has crept right back up again.  

I love to savour the flavour but hate the side effects. I can't get going in the morning with out it, am over-wired and grouchy in turn throughout the day and then unable to sleep well at night.

I know I feel calmer and happier and have more energy when I quit.  And the side effects definitely outweigh the pleasure, so I am going to cut right back down and have armed myself with some tips to help me on my way:

A bit nutty!

© 2004 S58Y Creative Commons license

I often notice articles that say different nuts are good for your hair and your skin and all sorts of other things.  

The only problem is that I can never remember what's meant to be good for what.  So I've done a bit of research and discovered the following 5 brilliant benefits of nuts

Cheap as chips

_{© 2010 groundselCreative Commons license} 

Some of my family never seem to get round to eating much fruit.

It's not that they don't like it - they do - but they come up with all sorts of reasons for not eating it. 

One of the reasons they give me is that fruit is too expensive.  But it's just not!