Sleep Strategies : For a good nights' sleep every night

The Best Sleep Strategies

- For a Good Nights' Sleep Every Night -

Find the right sleep strategy that works best for you. It may surprise you, that getting a restful night's sleep could be easier than you think. Paul McQueen's Sleep Strategies from the Hotlifestyle series is concise and to the point with proven ways to break you out of the cycle of tiredness to establish a healthy sleep pattern in record time.

Getting a good nights' sleep requires taking a critical look at the reasons why you can't sleep, understanding the mechanics of sleep then creating an effective routine to improve both quality and quantity. No matter how much it impacts your life right now, implementing some easy to follow techniques and making the necessary changes will improve your situation.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is responsible for preparing your body for sleep. There are ways to boost melatonin through food, supplements, exercise and controlling your exposure to light. The sleep process can be hindered when the optimum level is not reached just before going to bed. Things like exposure to "blue light" which is emitted from computer screens or televisions, eating the wrong foods too late in the evening can all reduce melatonin levels.

The biggest melatonin killer is the production of a different naturally occurring hormone called Cortisol. This juice has a variety of functions from regulating blood sugar to reducing inflammation, but most importantly it regulates the period when you are awake. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone as it's responsible for our fight-or-flight response, not something you want to trigger just before going to bed.

• Simply by boosting one hormone and reducing the other can go a long way to helping you find the sort after sleep that you crave.

Long term sleep deprivation or chronic insomnia can affect mood, appetite, and your ability to concentrate. It can be life threatening and you should consult a doctor if you've been having serious sleeping difficulties for some time.

Whether you're waking up in the middle of the night finding it hard to get back to sleep or simply having difficulty getting to sleep in the first place, Paul McQueen provides the tools to help you sleep better, reduce anxiety and stress, feeling happier. His advice includes tips for people working night shifts and those prone to jet lag, plus foods which will boost your deep sleep phase and improve your overall well-being.