If you’d like (or need!) some simple ways to sleep better, here’s a great free resource. My patient Georgia recently introduced me to this website:
Mysleepwell.ca  According to the site, which is a not-for-profit run by sleep researchers at Dalhousie University, they have two goals: 1) to help people with insomnia get their sleep back without medications; and 2) to help people stop taking sleeping pills safely and effectively.

After perusing the site, I can tell you it is a goldmine of great sleep insights!

You’ll find tips, ideas, and strategies for better sleep, learn about the dangers of sleeping pills, and discover things like sleep restriction therapy, sleep efficiency, and various relaxation techniques – including ones you’ve probably never heard of like ‘autogenic training’. You can even download a soothing audio for bedtime listening.

If you click on Sleep advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a treasure trove of stress-control tools for you to explore there as well.
One exercise, which Georgia pointed out, and I like as well, is designed to help you distract yourself from worry-thoughts that may be keeping you awake.

It’s called the cognitive shuffle. Here’s how it works:

  • “Choose a short word (e.g., bench).
  • For each letter come up with five words that start with that letter (e.g., 5 b words then 5 e words, and so on). Repeat until you fall asleep.”
  • If you have an overly busy mind at night, seems worth a shot.

Best part? The website is 100% free. (Again, they are not-for-profit.) Even if you suffer only occasional sleeplessness, I highly recommend you check it out. Also, please feel free to forward this along to friends or family members who could benefit. Thanks for the awesome tip, Georgia!

For further help and support with sleeping better – Have you considered a pillow upgrade?

I’ve currently got Chiroflow and Align Right pillows back in stock; with a plethora of pillows on the market, these two are very popular with my patients, and more importantly get my “customizable size” seal of approval. Designed to help you sleep better and reduce neck pain, a good therapeutic pillow is a perfect complement to chiropractic care. Personally I’ve been hooked on Align Right since 2004, but the size and shape isn’t for everyone!

Either pillow will adjust to your preferred sleeping position, and both offer a 30-day guarantee, which means you can sleep on it – and if you don’t love it – return it.

*** NOTE – I also suggest people use AIR instead of WATER if they want a lighter Chiroflow pillow – it works the same way! ***

These make a great gift, for yourself or others. If you’ve already gifted yourself one of these babies, let’s ensure yours is maintaining it’s size and shape still. Well, that does it for this one. One more health tip this year before we close the door on 2020.

Sincerely in Health, and more sweet dreams,

Dr. Josh

P.S. Here’s what one Amazon reviewer had to say about the Chiroflow pillow:
“2 years of tension headaches and migraines originating in my neck or shoulder- had prescriptions for pain killers, muscle relaxers. The migraines would get so bad I couldn’t see straight sometimes. Acupressure massages, heat, medication- nothing helped for more than a day or two. First night with this pillow was 5 weeks ago and not a single headache, neck or shoulder ache since! Seriously a life saver.”