There is something our subconscious does very well:
It tells us what we are truly afraid off. In some ways, it's just overstating the obvious, but we can be fools to think that we can hide the truth from our very own selves.
Today, I had a weird dream about some person I like being more distant than ever. I was worried that despite the lack of any romantic interest, I'd soon be forgotten. It's not a particularly unique situation; I believe most normal people have to experience this sorta feeling.
Feeling helpless cannot feel any more helpless.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
The Insomniac's Guide to Sleep
Sleep issues are very common these days, even amongst young ones, mostly due to our societal increase in general stress (of the bad variety), bad diets, and unhealthy habits. I myself get into a bind very often, but these are my top few methods of getting better sleep.
1. A dark, dark, dark room.
Your surroundings need to be pitch black till you wake up (especially for those who sleep late). Most people do not know this, but our body still can detect light through our scalp even if you cover your eyes completely albeit to a smaller degree. Your curtains should not be too thin or bright, and you can always use an eye mask too.
2. Silence.
If you do not have control over your surroundings and cannot exclusively soundproof your room, I recommend earplugs. They come in various varieties from foam to silicon ones, and the best fit will be found only through testing.
3. No heavy meals before bed.
This includes protein rich or excessively huge carb/sugar rich meals, but can extend to dairy products and other stimulants. The best nightcap are small amounts of good fats like nut butter.
4. Environment control.
Make sure there are no mosquitoes around (don't think the blanket will keep you safe because you might roll around at night and reveal skin). Regulate the temperature to your optimum if you are using air-conditioning (especially for us near the equator) and use a humidifier if you get dry mouth too much (a small cup of water near your bed helps a little, but I never found it to be overly effective). If you have to deal with unpredictable weather without air-conditioning, it is better to sleep nearer to the floor and make sure the room has plenty of ventilation especially from the outside.
5. No electronics.
This is probably the most difficult, but it really does help if you stop one hour before bed.
6. Exercise.
Having routine exercise throughout the week improves the body metabolism and signals it to rest deeply. Plus you get fit and healthier so why not. Do note that you might need more than the recommended sleep duration if you maintain a strenuous enough exercise regimes, and not getting it will make your body sluggish.
7. Sleep early.
A difficult preposition for most of today's youths, but our bodies regulate its hormonal system following the natural light exposure, so a human's optimal sleeping time is actually about 10-11pm till 6-7am. Some people are more sensitive than others, and should be a little more strict with this if they can.
Note: There is no such thing as reclaiming lost sleep. Once it is lost it is gone forever. All you are doing after that is recuperating the damage on the body.
1. A dark, dark, dark room.
Your surroundings need to be pitch black till you wake up (especially for those who sleep late). Most people do not know this, but our body still can detect light through our scalp even if you cover your eyes completely albeit to a smaller degree. Your curtains should not be too thin or bright, and you can always use an eye mask too.
2. Silence.
If you do not have control over your surroundings and cannot exclusively soundproof your room, I recommend earplugs. They come in various varieties from foam to silicon ones, and the best fit will be found only through testing.
3. No heavy meals before bed.
This includes protein rich or excessively huge carb/sugar rich meals, but can extend to dairy products and other stimulants. The best nightcap are small amounts of good fats like nut butter.
4. Environment control.
Make sure there are no mosquitoes around (don't think the blanket will keep you safe because you might roll around at night and reveal skin). Regulate the temperature to your optimum if you are using air-conditioning (especially for us near the equator) and use a humidifier if you get dry mouth too much (a small cup of water near your bed helps a little, but I never found it to be overly effective). If you have to deal with unpredictable weather without air-conditioning, it is better to sleep nearer to the floor and make sure the room has plenty of ventilation especially from the outside.
5. No electronics.
This is probably the most difficult, but it really does help if you stop one hour before bed.
6. Exercise.
Having routine exercise throughout the week improves the body metabolism and signals it to rest deeply. Plus you get fit and healthier so why not. Do note that you might need more than the recommended sleep duration if you maintain a strenuous enough exercise regimes, and not getting it will make your body sluggish.
7. Sleep early.
A difficult preposition for most of today's youths, but our bodies regulate its hormonal system following the natural light exposure, so a human's optimal sleeping time is actually about 10-11pm till 6-7am. Some people are more sensitive than others, and should be a little more strict with this if they can.
Note: There is no such thing as reclaiming lost sleep. Once it is lost it is gone forever. All you are doing after that is recuperating the damage on the body.
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