Sleep Hygiene September || Take 2 Tips: Banish racing thoughts.

AUG 3 || HEALTHFINDER.gov
Health Tip: Meditating at Bedtime
“A busy mind can keep you from a good night's sleep. And a relaxing meditation ritual may be just what you need to wind down."

AUG 16 || THE NEW YORK TIMES - WELL
A New Therapy for Insomnia: No More Negative Thoughts
"We’ve all heard about the power of positive thinking. But will it help me sleep?"

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||  TAKE 2 TIPS & FEEL BETTER IN THE MORNING  ||

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Sleep Hygiene September || Take 2 Tips: Read to Relax.

AUG 25 || HUFFINGTON POST
Great Motivational Quotes To Read Before Going To Sleep
"Countless studies have shown that people with higher levels of gratitude and positive thoughts before bed slept longer and reported better rest quality than those with more negative thoughts."

SEPT 14 || ROMPER
9 Books To Help You Cope With Anxiety
“Edmund Bourne's The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook is highly recommended for people suffering from anxiety. The book touches on cognitive therapy, relaxation techniques, and even lifestyle changes like diet and exercise."

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Sleep Hygiene September || Take 2 Tips: Make your bedroom an oasis

JULY 26 || HUFFINGTON POST SLEEP + WELLNESS
5 Ways To Make Your Bedroom The Perfect Sleep Sanctuary
"As part of the Angie’s List sleep sanctuary contest, lifestyle and design experts Carter Oosterhouse, Jennifer Bertrand and Mandi Gubler created their versions of the perfect bedroom for sleep. The designers used five tips from Arianna Huffington’s book, The Sleep Revolution, to provide their clients with a space conducive to a good night’s sleep."

AUG 21 || INSTYLE
A 2-Week Sleep Cleanse: Why I Turned My Bed Into a Shrine and You Should, Too
"After raiding my local bodega for some peonies and staging my bedside sleep shrine, I Marie Kondo–ed the clutter (good-bye, agita-inducing parenting books) and unplugged as much as I could: my digital alarm clock, iPad, laptop. My husband drew the line at the flat-screen TV and cable box, so—following Huffington’s advice—I covered the tiny lights with masking tape."

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THE WISDOM OF SLEEP: Dr. Andrew Weil

Curator's note: Alternative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil offers millions of Americans alternative options for achieving maximum health that are less invasive and do not rely on pharmaceuticals. One of the practices he often suggests for people struggling to fall asleep is a simple yogic breathing exercise known as the 4-7-8 breath.

I personally have used a variation of this technique as a "sleep aide" for over 30 years, especially on nights when anxiety runs high and the mind struggles to shut off. It absolutely works for me. 

For those of you who have occasional trouble falling asleep, I cannot recommend this treatment enough. 

Please click here to find a video where Dr. Weil illustrates this simple breathing technique.

If you aren't clear on the value of using breathing exercises for relaxation and sleep, please consider that deep breathing is part of a variety of techniques practiced in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). The latest research shows that CBTi (cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia) is generally more successful for treating insomnia than using pharmaceutical aids like Ambien (which are not meant for long-term use, anyway).