Don’t we all envy Sleeping Beauty,  Disney’s fairy tale princess who was fortunate enough to “sleep  for a hundred years” without any disruption until prince charming came along and woke her up.

In Sleeping Beauty’s case, it’s one tough act to follow.  For most of us, sleep has become a precious commodity.  What used to be only a night time tradition has become a part of our daytime routine as well.  It has come to a point, where catching up on our zees anytime in the day has replaced our daytime leisure activity because we lack the needed sleep to keep us going.

A lot of factors have been identified by experts as reasons for lack of sleep among adults. Stress coupled with worries and anxieties have been considered as one of the leading causes for sleepless nights.   Men and women who have difficulty in managing their work and leisure time often find themselves with only few winks and more waking hours.  As a consequence of a demanding lifestyle, sleep deficiency arises leading towards an unhealthy way of life.

Medical experts recommend at least 8 hours of sleep at night.  In this way, you reap the benefits of a good night sleep and your body is fully recharged the following day, thus allowing you to carry out your day tasks more proficiently.  In order to achieve the beauty sleep that most adults need to function efficiently, bear in mind the following:

  1. Keep a regular bedtime hour.  Establishing a bedtime routine, allows your brain to tune into the system and stick to this nighttime habit.
  2. Avoid any drinks with caffeine before your bedtime.  If you’re a person whose quite sensitive to the after-effects of caffeine found in drinks like coffee, tea and colas, experts say to pass up on that last cup of the day if you want to get that first rate slumber.
  3. Take a shower before heading off to sleep.  A quick shower, especially on a hot day, will cool off your body temperature and cause you to doze off easily.
  4. Put on soft music.  This may not apply to all, but for those who have tried and tested it, the sound of soft music, relaxes the brain and clears your head of any distress and anxieties.
  5. Switch off everything.  Turn off mobile phones, pagers and other electronic communication equipment to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted sleep.  This also applies to your 24-hour internet service.