Sleep. Beautiful sleep.

in·som·ni·a  n.   Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.

I suffer frequent bouts of insomnia ... nights when I just can't sleep more than 2 hours.  And I have always had problems falling asleep ... taking well over an hour of laying in bed before that sweet unconscious state takes over.

NO MORE!  On the advice of a professional I tried something new a few months ago and it's still working, so I'd thought I'd share my new-found technique.  He said I would fall asleep easily and have a deeper refreshing sleep  (more REM time).

The solution:  Classical music. (no words allowed) 
The method:  Put on soft, relaxing classical music; turn off the light; LISTEN to the music.

First, I needed to ensure I was listening to relaxing music --  No 1812 Overture stuff!   Solution: off to iTunes where I found an album entitled "The most relaxing CLASSICAL music in the universe."  It's certainly true to its name!

 

Next, I needed to figure out how to play it just for me (Harry wasn't interested in hearing it!  But then he's asleep before his head even settles into the pillow. )  Solution:  use my iPod. 

After 2 nights of falling asleep with ear buds and finding it very uncomfortable and the iPod playing through the entire album  - 2 hours 55 minutes, I had to find a way to turn it off after 45 minutes or so. 

Back to iTunes.  Guess what!  There's a FREE app for that!  I downloaded the app "Sleep Timer with music: reverse alarm clock" ( http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/sleep-timer-with-music-reverse/id354737783?mt=8 ).  The app allows you to choose music from your library and then set how long you want it to play.

I place the iPod beneath my pillow where I hear it, but Harry doesn't.  I let it play for 45-60 minutes.  At first I would listen to 5 or 6 pieces before I fell asleep.  Now I 'm lucky to hear all of the second song!  If I wake up in the night and need to fall asleep again, I just put it on again and within minutes I'm sound asleep.  I'm getting the best sleep I've had in YEARS and no more chemical aids to achieve it!

So I can now proclaim "Sleep.  Beautiful sleep!" 

Hmm ... I wonder if it works on kids ... ?