A few months ago, my nights became longer and just dreadful. I couldn’t sleep. Insomnia at its finest. 1 a.m., 2 a.m. …4 a.m. Nothing but nerves and thoughts. I used to knock right out without hesitation. I’d fall asleep watching something on the television, or looking at my phone- so what was the problem?
The true struggle of an entrepreneur is that we are always thinking. We think of new ideas, things that need to get done, problem-solving and so much more. Sure, the terms “laptop life” and “boss life” seem glamorous but in reality, it’s hard work. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do but I keep it real-it can be stressful.
The winter months are the hardest for me. It’s that time right after the holidays when it suddenly becomes quiet. Although I budget for the slow season, it’s still very challenging. The worry kicks in and my mind has thousands of open tabs. The result of all this is always something with my health. Since becoming self-employed, I’ve experienced an eye twitch, stiff neck, TMJ, and gray strands of hair even! These are all little gifts my business has given me. And every time I see the doctor for these things, the trigger is STRESS.
When a car breaks down, the first thing you do is go to the mechanic and figure out what’s going on. Then, you get it fixed or decide to do it yourself, and so on. You also keep in mind what the issue was and how it came about. It’s the same with your health. Go to the doctor, figure out what’s going on, and either let the doctor medicate you (or do your own research and help yourself).
I’m more of a natural girl. I despise putting unnatural medications into my body. So, I did some research. I read about the great benefits of essential oils, yoga, meditation, and tea. I also talked to a friend about it who gave me some advice on what helped her sleep better. She recommended apps that help you with meditation and breathing.
This post is getting lengthy, I know but I wanted to share this with you all because I think it’s important. And if I can help someone, even better. Insomnia is no fun and really leaves a person feeling like a zombie and unable to focus throughout the day. It’s also unhealthy as it weakens the body’s immune system. Our bodies need sleep- at least eight hours and I was getting maybe four.
In this post, I’ve created a list of the things I started doing which have helped me tremendously. All of these things have been effective and all without any kind of medication. All natural remedies.
5 Tricks to Help Beat Insomnia
Essential Oils- Lavender and Eucalyptus to stay calm and relaxed.
Oil Diffuser- Diffuses oils into the air for aromatherapy.
Sleeping Mask- Helps block out any light.
Peppermint Tea- Helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Calm & Relax Melodies- Helpful breathing exercises, meditation, stories, and sounds.
To add to this list, I also started using Hemp body oil at night.
I’m not sure if this makes a difference at all. It could be the massaging onto the skin part that gives a sense of relaxation but it’s worth a try. And last but not least, I cut out a lot of carbs from my diet and I incorporated exercise back into my life. Seriously, working out at least a few times a week is the best thing I’ve done for myself. I had such a busy schedule, I cut out exercise. Why did I ever stop? I used to go daily only two years ago. Exercise produces natural energy, boosts immunity, and relieves stress- it’s a natural healer! Sometimes I go to the gym and sometimes I do it from home. Now, you may have had an “aha!” moment reading this post but remember, the key to all of this is the will and desire to want to change your habits so that you can live a healthier lifestyle.
Have you tried any of these tricks? What works for you?
