Sleeping is the most important thing in our lives—we spend one third of our lives sleeping! But when we are unable to fall asleep or wake up during the night, mornings can be very unpleasant. Unfortunately, sleep is not easy to come by for many people. If maintaining a consistent sleep routine is not working and you’ve made sure that there is no medical cause for your sleeplessness, there are many natural things you can do to get a good night’s rest.

When you find yourself tired but just can’t get to sleep you can try several things that are safe and natural. The first thing, of course, is what you’re sleeping on. How old is your mattress? Is it lumpy or uncomfortable in places? Sometimes all you need to do is turn the mattress over for a fresh surface. And if you’re not quite ready to spend money on a new bed, a strip of memory foam can be like having a new mattress.

Meditation is also conducive to a restful night. If you’ve never tried meditation, there are many good books that can quickly teach you how. Meditation is nothing more than settling in a quiet and comfortable place and emptying your mind of thoughts by concentrating on an object or repeating a mantra of your own choosing. By focusing your mind on an object or sound, you are taking it on a short vacation free of worry while relaxing your body and regulating your breathing. Most people who meditate not only sleep soundly but improve their general health. Meditation is also therapeutic for people with heart disease, high blood pressure and migraine headaches.

Herbal remedies can also help you get a good night’s sleep in a natural and harmless way. One old trick is a cup of chamomile tea; taken shortly before bedtime, this herbal tea releases a soothing natural anti-inflammatory that relaxes your nerves and calms your body. You can also buy chamomile leaves in bulk and add it to a relaxing bath to get the same effect. Valerian, another completely natural herb, can be purchased in capsule form and taken before bedtime for a calming effect that will let you drift off to sleep easily.

Exercise is also an excellent way to get a good night’s sleep as long as you finish no less than an hour before retiring for the night. Moderate to vigorous exercise releases endorphins into your body that not only make you feel great but will convince your system that it’s time to relax and recuperate. This is why exercise is such a good aid to restful sleep.

Breathing exercises can also help you fall asleep rather quickly. Breath normally for fifteen breaths, hold the sixteenth only as long as is comfortable, release it then begin the cycle again. It rarely takes more than a few minutes of this exercise for you to drift off into a restful slumber.

There are many ways to get a good night’s sleep. With a little patience and a few tricks, your sleep problems will disappear and you’ll be able to wake up refreshed and ready for a great day!