Five Tips for Sleeping Better at Night

As someone who tends to get insomnia easily, I've tried a range of different exercises and methods to help my brain relax enough to allow me sleep. When I was younger, I can remember my father telling me to "count sheep" before bed until I dozed off, but, unfortunately, this really didn't do anything except remind me that I can count well! As I've grown older, however, I have stumbled across many methods which supposedly aid sleep—some of which seem to work.

For anyone who is struggling, I have compiled a list of tips to combat that dreaded insomnia. I hope they work for you guys as they've definitely been helpful in regulating my sleep patterns.

1) Pick a set bedtime and keep to it:

Ideally, getting to sleep before 10pm is the most beneficial for your body. Studies have shown that the best time for your body to get optimum rest (and heal itself) are those crucial couple of hours before midnight. Our brains thrive on routine and a set bedtime will mean that your brain will start to differentiate between when it should be relaxing...and when it should be thinking! At first, it might be tricky to break the habit that your brain has developed, in terms of not sleeping, but please do not be tempted to get up if you can't sleep. Stay in bed and keep your eyes closed. If you do this for a couple of weeks then your brain will start to recognise when it should be sleeping and establish a new routine.

2) Increase your magnesium and calcium intake:

Often, sleep deprivation is caused by calcium and magnesium levels getting too low. If you want to ensure a restful night's sleep, either take foods that are rich in magnesium (like dark leafy greens, pine nuts, sesame seeds, fish etc) and calcium (like cheese, milk, yoghurt etc) or pick up some tablets from your local health food store.

3) Breathing exercises:

A really handy exercise for relaxing your body enough to sleep is to breathe in for six seconds, hold for three, and then release for seven seconds. Keep doing this until your mind quietens and you get into a nice relaxed sleep.

4) Turn off all laptops, phones, consoles etc at least an hour or so before bed:

Bright artificial lights, in general, are well-known to decrease sleep quality and duration. If you want to ensure that you get a restful sleep, you need to turn off all of these screens an hour before bed—and keep them away! (Do not be tempted to reach for that mobile!)

5) Keep your bedroom tidy:

An untidy bedroom often equals an untidy mind. Your thoughts are far more likely to be calmer and more collected in a tidy environment, rather than in a messy room. Eliminate clutter physically and you're subconsciously telling your brain to eliminate clutter from your life internally, too—and often that will have a powerful effect in helping you to feel more peaceful.

Extra tips:

As a general rule, lay off heavy meals or sugary snacks/drinks before bedtime, too. If too much sugar or carbs are in your bloodstream, you body will end up with an excess of unused energy and struggle to relax. As a general rule, a nice glass of milk and honey before bed can do wonders.

Recently, I've also discovered that if I eat a banana in the day then I sleep much better, too. The banana regulates the blood sugar levels and stops them from spiking in the evening, which gives me a much better chance of getting some sleep!

Hope this helps. If you have any added tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below!

F x

Is it Possible to do a 1 Year Bucket List?

The other day, I mentioned to a group of friends that I had written a "bucket list" for 2015. Immediately, one of my friends stated that a bucket list is usually filled with all of the things that people want to achieve before death. This is undoubtedly true...but I'm still going ahead with my 2015 bucket list anyway. Want to know why? Mostly because there's so many things that I want to do before I die that I'd rather set myself realistic goals to complete for each year.

If I have a set list of things to do each year then I know I'm more likely to get them done. For me, personally, short-term lists and goals make my real bucket list far easier to achieve—especially since I usually get complacent with long-term lists because I believe I have oodles of time to complete them.

That's why I have jotted down 10 achievements that I intend to accomplish before the end of 2015. Perhaps it isn't a bucket list, as such, but the things on my to-do list shall help me complete my actual bucket list (once I make it).

My plans for this year are pretty simple really and they're as follows:

1) Finish writing my novel
2) Be in a play (last year I was a puppeteer in Little Shop of Horrors and played "The Branch of Doom" but I'm looking to progress towards a speaking role)
3) Visit Ireland
4) Visit Scotland
5) Go to Disneyland Paris
6) Attend Comic Con
7) Make a sitcom with two of my close friends
8) Learn to bake
9) Achieve the dream which I'm carrying about in my head
10) Leave current job and enter a new profession


What are your goals for 2015? The list can be as short or as long as you want. Ultimately, it's not about quantity...it's about following the path you want and living the life you want to lead. If you want this year to be better for you then change it and start working towards achieving your dreams. You have that power.

Dreams - Kissing

Dreams which involve kissing another person are actually a lot more common that people would care to admit. I'll happily be hold my hand up and admit that I've had dreams about kissing people. To be perfectly honest, I've even dreamed about kissing an ex-boyfriend or two in the past. I'm pretty certain, in those instances, that the dreams weren't foretelling my future...so let's get on to what dreams involving kissing can actually mean.


Dreaming that you're kissing a friend:

To dream that you're being kissed by a friend signifies the deep respect and care which you feel towards that person. It may also signify a wish to deepen your bond and friendship.


Dreaming that you're kissing a celebrity:

This often denotes a strong desire to succeed in something you're doing right now. If you're working on a new project then it might mean that you're desperate to succeed there.


Dreaming of kissing a stranger

If your dream involves kissing someone you don't know then it might signal a desire for a fresh start in some aspect of your life, or a journey of self-discovery that you're undertaking. There might be some aspect of yourself that you're only just beginning to discover. Alternatively, it might mean that you're finally recognising some aspect of yourself that you'd previously repressed.


Dreaming that you're kissing an ex-boyfriend:

This can mean several different things so you'll have to decide which feels most right for you and the dream you were experiencing. I know some people hope that a reconciliation with an ex in a dream is a premonition for the future. I'm afraid I can't offer that guarantee, just as I can't disapprove it either. It's possible that your subconscious is picking up signs that are coming from your ex...but it's also equally possible that the dream is just trying to help you work through something.

Dreaming about kissing an ex-boyfriend suggests that the ex-boyfriend is on your mind. However, it could simply mean that your brain is looking back on the positive experiences that you had with your ex and is yearning for something similar with a new love. If you're single, it's possible that your brain is acknowledging the positive points of a past relationship so that you can work out what you want in future relationships. If there's been a significant shift or change in your life recently then the dream could also signal how far you've come since that relationship.

To dream of kissing your first love may be symbolic of fresh love or romance blooming in your life. If you're already in a relationship but dreaming about your ex then it could mean you need to add a little more passion and romance into your existing relationship.


Hints and tips: 

• If your dream involves kissing a stranger then is there anything about him that is at all familiar? Does he look or remind you of anyone? 
• Different parts of the body mean different things. For example, someone kissing you on the neck suggests passion, lust and giving into your desires. Alternatively, if you are kissing someone's foot then it may signify the respect you feel for that person. Similarly, dreaming of kissing someone on the cheek often denotes respect and friendship.

Christmas Magic

Christmas Day is almost upon us. As I write this post to you, the presents have already been stacked under the tree and the last of the pre-Christmas preparations finished. There's something a little bit magical in the air around Christmas Eve and I can't quite shake the feeling that something good is coming my way. Earlier misgivings are fading and giving way to a renewed feeling of hope and love.

 

I choose to believe in the magic of wishes. With the fire place aglow and a plate full of steaming hot mince pies awaiting me, I'm going to take a few minutes to make a wish on whatever Christmassy star is shining outside. The true magic of Christmas is in the spirit of believing; if you believe in miracles then anything can happen.

Last Christmas, I got one of the biggest miracles I'd ever asked for by being positive and believing. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to get your wish this year if you do the same. It might not always come in the way you expect but things have a way of working out.

That being said, sometimes you've also got to know when to stop chasing a dream. If you're persistently being blocked then maybe there's a reason for that. If your dream involves someone else then remember that you cannot be the only person to put in all of the effort. Sometimes a little help has to come from the other person—and if they can't do that, or aren't even willing to try, then move on and find yourself a new dream. You are worth more. You might not believe it... but you are. If one dream isn't working out for you then build yourself a better one.

Believe in the magic, make a wish, dare to dream...and have a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Spirit: The Non-Boozy Kind

It's been a long time since I've sat down to write a blog post so you'll have to excuse the rustiness and verbal diarrhoea which may shortly ensue.

Christmas is just four days away. With all the festive frolics, steaming mulled wine and crooning carollers, it's easy to see why Christmas is considered the most magical time of the year. This year, though, everything has changed. Instead of throwing myself into Christmas preparations with a glorious joyeux de vivre, I find myself longing for the coming New Year and the beginning of 2015.

Maybe it's the endless consumerism, the barrage of stressed shoppers scrambling around for the best Christmas deals, the growing anxiousness to get the "perfect present", or maybe it's because this time of year is a constant reminder of things lost...but I’m finding Christmas less and less enjoyable this year.

In all the bustle of Christmas, it's often easy to forget that Christmas can be the loneliest times of the year for some people. Watching other people excitedly getting ready for a Christmas packed with family and friends must bring a sharp pang to the heart of anyone who has recently experienced a loss of some kind.

People can be snapped away in an instant. So, if I could impart one message about Christmas—if I've learnt anything from this year at all—it's not to take the people around you for granted. They can be gone in a heartbeat, leaving you filled with so many regrets. Christmas is a stressful time but don't lose sight of the fact that you probably have a lot of people out there who really care about you. If you love someone, hold onto that love and don't let it slip away.

As someone spending Christmas single this year, it is hard to believe that this time last year I was giggling in the arms of someone who I thought was the most special guy in the world: The guy I thought I would be spending every day with for the rest of my life. Twelve months later and that dream is hopelessly lost—and no amount of work on my part can fix it, nor any prayer change it. I've lost my dream…but it's made me more determined than ever that everyone else gets their happy ending. Make your wishes come true. Keep hold of the magic of love this Christmas and enjoy every moment you spend together—because it can all end with just a few heated comments. Don't let rash words or the strain to create "a perfect Christmas" bring with it an avalanche of regrets. If you love someone, keep them. Love isn't about never having cross words or always agreeing with each other—but it is about being prepared to compromise and loving each other enough to try again. Love is not about walking away forever because you're scared something may not fit further down the line; it's about trying to make things work regardless.

I know of so many couples who are struggling because of the strain which Christmas brings and it simply isn't worth it. Christmas only lasts a few days—so, please, if I could ask one thing of anyone reading this, it's this: Don’t do anything you might regret further down the line. Do not split with a partner unless you've truly stopped caring for each other. Who cares if he forgot to buy the cranberry sauce? No one likes it all that much anyway. What does it matter if she's invited that aunt who you've never liked to stay for a few days over the Christmas period? It's only two or three days and then you have the place to yourself again.

Keep the people that you love around you for Christmas and enjoy every moment. Pull crackers, groan at the silly jokes, get merry on tipples of wine, stuff yourself full of roast dinners and Christmas pudding, live in the moment… and have a wonderful Christmas.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” —Thomas S. Monson.