There are psychological theories on the importance of sleep, what happens when we sleep, why some of us can’t sleep, sleep disorders, dreaming and the different stages of sleep. By why is sleep so important?

Cracking the Sleep Code

The best way to decipher the sleep code is to study what happens to us when we’re sleep deprived. The amount of sleep a person can deal with before it effects overall functioning is based on individual needs. Some people can function having only two or three hours of sleep while another person wouldn’t be able to stay awake with less than eight.

Either way, some researchers believe that (a) long periods of wakefulness will produce physiological and behavioral disturbances; (b) these disturbances will grow worse as the period of deprivation continues; and (c) that after the period of deprivation ends, a lot of missed sleep will be regained. Other researchers feel we’ve been evolved to respond to the dark-light cycles of days where we get sleepy when it’s dark outside and wake-up when it’s light. That’s why some of us can’t have a nap during the day to save our lives!

What about the kind of sleep we’re getting? Two different people may both be getting the required eight hours of sleep but one person will get a solid, deep uninterrupted sleep while the other wakes up several times and never reaches that deep REM level of sleep. Who do you think feels more rested in the morning?

Simple Solutions for Restful Nights

Now that we know what not sleeping can do to us, how do we help ourselves get more of those all-important ZZZ’s? Here are a few suggestions:

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I hear myself saying it all the time. If a student is stressed, emotional, caught up in complex, negative thinking, I tell them to first just breathe…! Breath in, breath out.

I should listen more to the advice I’m giving.

How I Learned To Breathe

The first time I took a dive inside, into my body, I was eighteen and had been struggling with every eating disorder in the book for years. I came across “You can Heal your Life” by Louise L Hay, picked up on her Holistic thinking and her affirmations, and had a light bulb experience. I was living completely outside of my body, doing much more thinking than feeling, much more doing than being. I was surprised to discover that there was actually a voice inside that could not only guide me in different situations but also tell me whether my body needed something or not.

It was an inner paradigm shift. There was this whole body that I could fill with my spirit, breathe into every cell, every vein, every hair…instead of constantly trying to reshape, adjust and improve it. My own inner dictator, firmly backed up by the latest monthly magazines, was losing ground, and fast. It was the beginning of my journey to live from the inside out instead of the other way around.

Remember Who You Are

My path since that internal shift has been one of remembering more and more who I truly am. Forgetting, messing up, doing the ego-dance. And then remembering again.

So even today I am going to leave the long to-do lists for a second, stop running, stop thinking, stop calling parents or organizing class parties for the coming hour…and just be still…breathing. Being. Feeling.

[Photo from iandeth]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? And the time when we are most prone to pick up those cold viruses and flu bugs that seem to just float outside the door, waiting to attack us when we dare to venture past our cozy little nests. Actually, it seems like they walk right on in our cozy little nests and attack us there, too. Colds and flus are just downright nasty. Instead of accepting them as a matter of course, fight back. But you can do better than the drug-packed shelves at the local pharmacy. Try a few of these natural, herbal solutions to deal with cold and flu symptoms, and to shorten the duration of those nasty invaders.

Hot Tea Blend with Honey and Lemon

Any herbal tea will do, but you get extra credit if you drink chamomile (which is relaxing and has anti-inflammatory effects) or peppermint (which contains menthol, a cough suppressant and decongestant). Heat your water to boiling, and pour into your mug over the teabag. Let the tea steep, covered, for three to five minutes. Uncover, remove the tea bag, and squeeze a lemon wedge over it. Stir in enough honey to sweeten it and start sipping as soon as you can.

The warmth and steam will help to unclog your nose. The warmth of the liquid and the honey will soothe your irritated throat. The lemon and the herbs will attack the virus cells. Drink as much hot tea as you can handle throughout the day and especially before bed, to help calm down your cough before sleeping.

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As the holiday season approaches, a lot of us will find our already hectic, day-to-day routines getting even more jam-packed with things to do. Whether it’s entertaining, gift buying, or just making the rounds visiting family and friends during the festive season, the added activity can often leave us wondering where all the ‘tidings of comfort and joy’ have gone.

If you find yourself in the midst of a holiday headache, or turning into a stressed out Santa, why not try a little aromatherapy instead of reaching for an over the counter pain killer? There are many different ways to make use of essential oils, especially for holiday stress relief.

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Sure, one of the hottest movies out right now is The Secret Life of Bees, based on Sue Monk Kidd’s bestselling novel. But what we’re concerned with is not the main character; instead, we’ve taken a liking to the bees that give the movie its moniker.

That’s right we’re talking about the healing powers of bees and that tasty stuff they produce – honey.

Here’s how becoming a member of the hive might improve your health:

Bee Pollen

Unless you are allergic to bee stings, bee pollen’s high B12 and protein properties can boost immunity. Pop a few spoonfuls of wildflower bee pollen in your next smoothie or yogurt, and you’ll be buzzing with energy in no time.

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