I cannot stress enough the importance of sleep for your energy levels. Your body recuperates the most while you are asleep, so it’s very important that you sleep properly. There are many ways that sleep is directly related to your energy levels.

For example, sleep is linked to the regulation of cortisol production. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland, and it helps the body to maintain a proper level of energy throughout the day.

Cortisol levels in your body tend to drop as the day progresses, which is why you feel tired at the end of the day. Sleep is the best way to reset your cortisol levels. The reason your body recuperates and regenerates while you are sleeping is simple.

It takes a lot of energy to recover, and that much energy is only available while you are sleeping. If you lack sleep, then the process of recovery takes place alongside your everyday activities, making you feel even more drained. So it is important that you get sufficient sleep to stay healthy.

Focus on a positive thought

I agree this step is harder than it sounds. Your mind is too complex to stick to one thought alone. One tip is to remember a day where you were extremely happy.

Did you not fall asleep more easily on that day? Most of us would answer it with a simple yes. When you have a good day, your brain concentrates on that one thought which made you happy or proud that day, which helps it calm down and reduce conscious activities.

Even on your worst days, try to focus on something positive that happened. Concentrate on that single happy thought that made you smile as you fall asleep. It really helps!

Exercise

When you exercise, you do not have to tire yourself out completely. All you need to do is to keep your body running and well-maintained. The human body is like a car.

A car needs to be maintained and well-oiled, and most importantly, it needs a constant workout, as this helps the various parts in the car to move effortlessly.

The human muscles are similar too: when you work your muscles out, it actually releases a lot of tension, thereby reducing your body’s stress. Your body is bound to be more relaxed if you exercise regularly.

Regulate the color of the light in your room

There is a reason why you cannot sleep when you are scrolling down your mobile phone. The light that your electronic devices emit has a blue component that actually keeps your brain active, which is why you have trouble sleeping.

Use this knowledge to your advantage; reduce white light in your room an hour or two before you sleep. This helps your brain to relax and fall asleep.

Reduce negative or work-related thoughts

The simplest way to do this is to face these thoughts, and the best way to achieve that is to write them down. When you write all the negative things you have endured throughout the day, you have accepted the events for what they are.

The reason thoughts find a way to haunt you is because you haven’t fully accepted them, but by writing them down you actually solve this problem.

Fool your brain!

This technique is funny because it works. Your brain is rebellious; you tell it something, and it tries to do the exact opposite. How many times have you told yourself that you wouldn’t eat your favorite fat-rich snack anymore, but minutes later found yourself eating that snack? This is a testament to your brain’s ability to rebel.

So simply lie down on your bed and keep thinking that you do not want to sleep. Your brain is strange enough to rebel and make you fall asleep. You don’t believe me? Why don’t you try it for yourself?

Imagination is comforting

There is a very old saying that imagination is faster than light. If you have been to Paris or at least seen it in pictures, then here is a simple exercise: Try to imagine yourself in Paris. In your mind, you probably reached Paris in a fraction of a second.

Why stop there? Imagine you are near the sun, and your brain can do it in a fraction of a second. Even light takes around 8 seconds to travel that distance, but your brain can get you there in an instant. Your imagination is stronger than you give it credit for. When you lie down in your bed, imagine a scenario, keeping it happy.

Now let this scenario manifest itself. Your brain knows how to do this, so relax and let your brain take you through the story. This is a very good method for falling asleep and for realizing the true potential of the human brain.

Avoid irregular working hours

If at all possible, don’t switch between night and day shifts. Let your body get adjusted to one of the two. If you constantly change your sleeping patterns, it will be tougher for you to fall asleep. This is also true for people who work regular double shifts. You should work either the nights or the days regularly, without mix them up, as much as you can control your schedule.

Eliminate light and noise

Darkness and silence are your allies in falling asleep. The better you can recreate an environment which resembles night, the faster you can actually fall asleep. Make your bedroom as dark and as silent as possible if you need to sleep during the day.

Take a bath or shower before sleeping

Taking a nice warm bath before bed will help to relax your body from the day’s stress. Try taking a bath with Epsom salts to relax your body, relieve muscle pain or tension, and help eliminate toxins from the body.

About author

I am certified in addiction counseling, public health, health education, mental health and I am also an AIDS-certified registered nurse with more than 30 years of experience and founder of Hindi health point

DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.