Insomnia & lemon on the bedside table

For the past weeks, I’ve been waking up at 4 in the morning. It’s like clockwork. The clock goes 4 and my eyes automatically open up. And then starts the tossing and turning. Three hours later, I’ve been awake-sleeping the whole time and waking up is a real struggle. The whole day I try the stay awake, consuming copious amounts of coffee.

Not knowing what it is that is causing this, I went on a quest to find a cure! Having an amazing Instagram community I asked the question of what to do when suffering from insomnia. And the top tips came down to the following:

• • wear a facemask 
  • exercise 
  • mindfulness 
  • stop drinking coffee 
  • place half a lemon on the bedside table 

Wear a facemask 

I was not convinced by this at first, but as a keen researcher, I did some research and found that using an eye mask can result in more REM time, shorter REM latency, and elevated levels of melatonin, which helps to promote healthy sleep patterns and hormone balance.

Exercise 

Duh! We know!! Regular exercise (whether it might be as long as you move your body) can improve sleep quality and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness. So I started the day with a walk in the countryside. I normally walk in the afternoon followed by some kind of circuit workout, but today I went off in the morning and I felt more focused throughout the day.

place half a lemon on the bedside table 

I am very superstitious (who would have thought!). So when this suggestion fell into my messages I was sold! Why a lemon you might ask!  Apparently, the ingredients in a lemon can trigger a physiological response in the body and improve respiratory concerns, air quality and sleep.

Lemon’s detoxification properties make it an effective means to improve air quality. According to researchers, it gives off a powerful aroma that makes the air in the room and around the bed a bit more pleasant.

According to aromatherapy, inhaling lemon while sleeping helps control headache, and rheumatoid arthritis. The research conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Centre, expecting women who inhaled lemon essential oil, felt less anxiety and fear as compared to others.

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