It's easy to think nothing of missing a little sleep here or there, especially to accomplish more work. I used to believe this, and stayed up many a late night to try to take advantage of the quietness that nighttime provides.
The reality of losing sleep, however, is quite grim. Whereas proper sleep gives you the ability to receive knowledge, the ancient Ayurveda texts teach us that lack of proper sleep not only puts us in poor mental states, but also deteriorates our memory, and hampers our focus, creativity and decision-making abilities. In this sense, regular lack of sleep easily gives rise to ignorance, in terms of both thoughts and behavior.
Modern health experts agree. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) even conducted a study that found that poor sleep at night can impair our behavior just as much as being legally drunk does.
As a lifelong student, and now teacher and practitioner of Ayurveda, I am most passionate about promoting the sub-science of Ayurveda called Svasthavritta, which includes many all-natural, dietary and lifestyle-based solutions to a variety of health challenges, including insomnia.
As someone who used to suffer from chronic insomnia, these four all-natural Ayurvedic insomnia solutions have all worked wonders for me, and I'm delighted to share them with you.
1. Sleep by 10pm and arise by 6am.
"Early to bed, early to rise" is not only a popular colloquial expression; it's also one of Ayurveda's most important insomnia solutions. By going to sleep no later than 10:00 pm each evening, and arising no later than 6am, you benefit from the time frame it's easiest to fall and remain asleep. You also live in greater overall harmony with the natural cycles of day and night.
The atmosphere during the time period between 8:30 am and 10:00 pm is dominant in a quality known in Ayurveda psychology as tamas, which is essentially inertia or dullness. Tamas is a very helpful quality for making it easier to sleep. During the daytime, starting at 6:00 am, the atmosphere is charged with the quality of rajas, which is connected with activity and movement.
I now find that waking up early (between 4:00 am and 6:00 am) gives me even more and higher-quality quiet time than I used to experience by staying awake late at night. Waking up early also helps you sleep more easily at night.
2. Turn off your T.V. and laptop after 8:00 pm.
Your mind and psyche is constantly bombarded with inputs from a variety of media sources throughout the day. By turning off the television and computer screens at night, you can do our sleep a big favor by allowing yourself to stay away from mental distractions and start to prepare for the upcoming act of sleep.
3. Create a bedtime ritual.
Speaking of preparing for sleep at night, Harvard Business Review recently published an article about the importance of having a meaningful practice to help wind down your day. The science of Ayurveda has recommended this for thousands of years, via its various dinacharya (daily routine) practices.
According to Ayurveda's dinacharya protocol, you should spend the hours of 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm in the company of the people, pets, books and activities that give you a sense of peace, calmness and grounding. Just before bedtime, it's also recommended to adopt a practice that inspires you, such as reading an uplifting book, writing in your journal, going for an evening walk, listening to soothing music, or practicing meditation.
4. Oil your feet, the top of your head, and the back of your ears.
Another wonderful health ritual Ayurveda recommends for sound, quality sleep is the practice of oiling the soles of your feet, the top of your head, and the back of your ears with warm sesame oil. Doing so not only promotes healthy sleep; it also helps counteract the aging process and combats stress.
Following Ayurveda's insomnia solutions has greatly transformed the quality of sleep I experience. Try these timeless solution, and you, too, can also start to sleep deeply, thanks to Ayurveda.
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