November 29th, 2008 by Phil

Stress and tension can build up in our bodies without us even knowing. Telltale signs such as a headache or neck ache might give us indication that we’re under stress, but by this point we are already suffering the effects of stress.

Too much stress and tension can be bad for our psychological and physical health and can wreak havoc with sleep. In this day and age, people are so accustomed to experiencing stress in the day they often accept it as part of life.

Most people might associate stress with feelings of anger, however feelings such as resentment and frustration are triggers for stress. Simply working in a dull job or just not being appreciated at work can cause negative emotions.

In many cases a person may not have any strong thoughts about their position or remark that they feel particularly upset. This is because over time a person can grow used to particular situations and environments. Just like a worker can grow use to working in a noisy factory.

They may get home feeling no different than usual, but once they get into bed or relax on the sofa. They realize how tense and exhausted they feel. Conscious thoughts start bubbling to the surface and they begin to feel restless and irritable.

They may feel tired and sleepy, but feel tense when they get into bed. They might also find it hard to relax their muscles and get comfortable – experiencing aches and pains frequently. Racing thoughts is another common problem that affects poor sleepers.

Tension can build up in the mind and body and over the day. So it’s important to be able to release some, if not all of this tension before we sleep. You might think an hour in front of the TV is enough to relax you, but believe it or not, watching TV can be highly stimulating for the brain.

Even such activities such as reading or surfing the net can be highly stimulating. What your mind needs is deep relaxation to help release mental tension. Activities such as listening to relaxing music, having a massage or hot bath can greatly reduce muscle tension.

It’s important to realize the importance of relaxation. Our minds and bodies are not designed to be barraged with constant stress and tension. Make an effort to reduce stress through relaxation in both the day and evening. Simply spending 10 minutes twice a day in a quiet place meditating can do wonders to reduce stress and improve health and well-being.

For more information on how to tackle stress and sleep better click here.

September 19th, 2008 by Phil

You know how it is sometimes. Life feels like it’s getting on top of you. You find it hard to relax – to breath. It’s good to give yourself a break, even if it is for just 5 or 10 minutes during the day. And what better way to relax than just to sit, relax, listen to calming music and breathe slowly and deeply.

Watch and listen to the video below and unwind. Let go of your days stresses and enjoy.

July 12th, 2008 by Phil

If you have ever suffered from insomnia, no one has to tell you how crazy it can make you feel. Not being able to sleep when you desperately want to can be incredibly frustrating. Not getting the rest you need can completely drain your energy and motivation. Plus, the sleep deprivation symptoms that build over time turn you into an accident looking for a place to happen. Would you like to find out how to beat insomnia? It can be done. But first it’s important to determine if your sleeplessness is related to sleep disorders.

Many people mistake insomnia for a disease or disorder. But inability to sleep is really a symptom that something is wrong. Mental conditions like stress or depression can cause insomnia. So can physical pain or side effects of medication. But if these common causes have been ruled out, you need to take a closer look at the possibility that you suffer from sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders are not like a cold or a skinned knee. That is to say, they are not simple conditions, nor are they easily understood. Medical knowledge about conditions that disturb your sleep is continuing to evolve. Research continually leads to new findings. New medications are regularly introduced. So if you’re dealing with a condition like obstructive sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, you will need to stay informed about the latest advances. And you should realize that you may actually know more about your condition than most physicians.

Unfortunately, sleep disorders don’t play well with others. They tend to have a negative effect throughout your body. And they affect more than just your sleep. By keeping you awake all night, your daytime quality of life is harmed just as much as your sleep, if not more. As you continue to miss out on sleep at night, your immune system is weakened. Your reactions become slower. Your thoughts are muddled and foggy.

But none of this means that sleep disorders can’t be controlled. It is possible to do more than just survive. You can learn to deal with your sleep disorder and learn how to beat insomnia. Just remember this: sleep disorders are often around for a long time. To effectively manage your life and health, you may not want to just accept the flavor-of-the-month prescription. A much better solution is to learn how to manage your sleep naturally.

May 15th, 2008 by Phil

Hypnotherapy has been used successfully to cure addictions, phobias, cravings and even mental disorders. Hypnotherapy has been used for thousands of years and has been scientifically proven as an effective therapeutic tool. Practitioners such as the world famous hypnotist and TV celebrity, Paul Mckenna have helped make hypnotherapy popular.

Hypnosis works by tapping into your subconscious and implementing gradual changes to thoughts and behaviors, through visualizations or affirmations. Hypnosis works because the mind cannot tell from reality and vivid imagination.

Positive changes can be made in a very short space of time. In fact, hypnotherapy has been used to treat insomnia [...] Continue Reading…

April 3rd, 2008 by Phil

Chronic insomnia is also known as long-term or hyper-insomnia. Sleep studies show on average that 10% of adults suffer from this condition. Unlike transient and intermittent insomnia, chronic insomnia sufferers rarely experience a good night’s sleep.

In fact many chronic insomnia sufferers have suffered for years and even their whole lives. What many people do not understand is that it’s a very serious condition that affects the sufferer physically and mentally.

Being an ex-chronic insomnia sufferer myself I understand how frustrating this condition can be. I thought I was going to go insane at some point; not being able to fall [...] Continue Reading…

March 20th, 2008 by Phil

They say laughter is the best medicine. I couldn’t agree more, which is why I wanted to share this video with you. The Japanese come up with the most original pranks!

March 16th, 2008 by Phil

I found this interview with Tony Robbins. A great guy who has lots to offer anyone, no matter what state or situation you’re in. If you’ve got 12 minutes to spare, hit the play button and enjoy!

February 27th, 2008 by Phil

Have you ever tried meditation, but gave up because you find it difficult to relax and empty your mind for even just 2 minutes?

You may have heard about the health benefits of meditation and how it can help with sleeplessness and insomnia. Some other health benefits include:

• Increase oxygen levels in your body.
• Increase in blood flow.
• Reduction in heart rate.
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Reduction in muscle tension.
• Increase in self-confidence.
• Increase in serotonin production.
• [...] Continue Reading…

February 13th, 2008 by Phil

The regular routine things, like sleeping, eating and walking are so common that we hardly spare our time in thinking about them. It’s a vast territory of mystery, which Shakespeare once termed, “night’s second self”. We sleep as it is needed. It’s an inevitable part of our life. But a simple general knowledge about sleeping can make this almost overlooked part a strongly enhancing factor of our life. Let us take a deeper look at some interesting sleeping facts.

Sleep more – feel good, makes sense right? We know that at least eight hours we should spend in sleeping. We [...] Continue Reading…

January 24th, 2008 by Phil

Insomnia is a tough cookie to crack. Sleep deprivation is a doubled edged sword which most of us fail to understand. There are two mechanisms that govern our sleep and daytime functionality

On one side you have the sleep mechanism and on the other you have the wakefulness mechanism. With a majority of insomniacs, the wakefulness mechanism often beats the sleep mechanism. This is usually due to a number of reasons. For one when our conscious mind is too awake at night, we find it nigh on impossible to sleep. Often this is due to excessive worry, stress or anxiety. [...] Continue Reading…