In our constantly plugged-in, fast-paced society today, it’s no wonder why so many people have sleeping problems. Some doctors and researchers have even called lack of adequate sleep a public health epidemic due to the number of sleep-deprived citizens today. In fact, according to a Gallup report, a staggering 41% of Americans don’t get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
As you’ve probably heard before, our cells regenerate during sleep, allowing us to carry out all the necessary tasks of a day’s work. However, improper sleep can lead to poor mental and physical health. In fact, a groundbreaking study from the University of Surrey in the UK found that just one week of inadequate sleep can lead to changes in a whopping 700 genes in the human body.
Sleep deficiency can lead to chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, depression, heart disease, and cancer, just to name a few. Researchers found that the genes affected controlled inflammation, immunity, and stress response.
So, what can we do about this ever-growing sleep problem? For starters, it would help to learn how to fall asleep again, something that came very naturally to us as children. However, due to life stress and all the things that come along with “growing up,” many of us have simply forgotten how to fall asleep in a short amount of time. Our minds keep us awake at night, inducing anxiety and restlessness.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO FALL ASLEEP IN 1 MINUTE OR LESS
While clearing your mind before sleep may seem like a difficult task, Dr. Andrew Weil recommends a simple breathing technique to help you relax. He points to the 4-7-8 breathing technique as a natural sleep remedy for the nights when sleep seems to elude you. Below, we’ll discuss exactly how to do this breathing exercise.
- First, make sure you have the right posture to allow for deep breathing. (Sit up straight, relax your shoulders, etc)
- Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth. Keep it there throughout the exercise, even as you exhale.
- Exhale completely.
- Inhale through your nose to a count of four.
- Hold your breath for a count of seven.
- Exhale through your mouth to a count of eight.
- Then, complete the sequence three more times.
It might take a few nights of practice for this to work, but the key is consistency. You might have trouble concentrating on doing the exercise at first, but just remember to set aside some time before bed so that you can focus on nothing but breathing.
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