Natural/healthy sleep aids?

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wickedDUDE

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Jun 25, 2006
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Hello,

I work 9-5 during the week and used to be more motivated to do AM shit on the weekends. Although lately, I find my body waking me up on weekends at the same time I get up during the week, despite going to bed late. Consequently, I feel unmotivated and lazy... just doing the minimum to keep my sites operational.

I'm not interested in taking pills... but if you know of any natural routes to getting a longer sleep, please post it here. I used to be able to sleep 10-11 hours, and would feel great during the day and get a lot of shit done.
 


Just giving you hints, must do your own research.

1) Melatonin
2) 5-HTP
3) Sleepy teas from any health food store

On top of that, clean up your diet and exercise.
 
Try Melatonin.

If it doesn't work for you, go for Kava Kava.

Both are natural and safe. However, if you really want to avoid any kind of supplement, try doing sit ups in bed. Do 100, lie down for 10 mins, if you can't sleep, do another 100... lie down 20 mins... still can't sleep, do another 100. This way even if you can't sleep you're gonna have a mad six pack within a couple weeks.
 
3mg of Melatonin is a good place to start, but you'll need to actually get in bed and try to sleep, it won't knock you out if you are awake and doing things. I take 3mg of Melatonin about 45mins before I need to be asleep and it works very well. If for some reason it doesn't work, sometimes I'll take 12.5 mg of diphenhydramine (Simply Sleep, over the counter) on top of the Melatonin. I've had chronic insomnia for years, and when I really need to get some rest, this works without making me feel like garbage the next day.
 
I like melatonin myself, but I would only start taking it if you really need it.

Do you exercise? I used to have sleep problems similar to the ones you are describing, and they went away as soon as I started exercising a bit. It didn't even take a lot of exercise... just 20 or 30 minutes of walking/jogging .. but my fatass was WAY out of shape..
 
Sounds like you have a healthy sleep cycle if you're waking up every day at the same time.

I saw melatonin mentioned a few times in this thread. It definitely works and you won't feel groggy the next day. The only side effect is very weird, lucid dreams. That may or may not be a bad thing depending on how your dreams usually play out.

Also, diet and exercise plays a HUGE role in how you feel.
 
If I'm having a hard time sleeping I usually take a freezing cold shower for about 5 minutes. Tim Ferris recommended ice baths somewhere and I tested the cold shower out - definitely knocks me out.

Sounds like it would wake you up instead, but give it a try.
 
I'm not sure what your eating habits are like but avoid eating anything heavy a few hours before going to bed - I found that increased my quality of sleep. I know it's common sense but same deal goes with tea/coffee. You might not notice the caffeine affecting you before bed if you're a reg drinker but it can impact your quality of sleep.

I would just go to bed earlier and continue waking up early. I use to sleep in until lunch time but for a few years now I've been waking up around 4:30am-5am.. it's nice to go for a 30min walk, grab a coffee and all that while the sun is just coming up. You not only get use to waking that early but come to love it.
 
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