And sleep

When people find out that I am a hypnotherapist one of the most common problems that they want to talk to me about is sleep.  They either can’t get off to sleep or they wake up during the night or they wake up unrefreshed.  Good sleep is so important for our physical and mental health and that’s why I frequently blog about the subject.

 

I also run a one day workshop on getting better sleep.   I was preparing for one of these workshops last week and I was looking for any new material or research.  I came across this beautiful piece of music by Eric Whitacre on TED Talks called ‘Sleep’.  The music and the words are so lovely I wanted to share it.  http://blog.ted.com/2011/04/08/watch-sleep-eric-whitacres-new-work-with-2000-voices/

Enjoy! 

The Best Medicine

Today, 16 January, is said to be the most depressing day of the year.  Well, I know it’s Monday, but the sun is shining and it feels like a good start to the week.

As human beings we are hardwired to look at the bright side of life even if the evidence around us suggests that the future is not looking so good.  Optimism is part of our strategy for survival and helps us to deal with financial problems, health issues and worries about our children.

This could be the reason why laughter is so good for us.  It reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and releases health enhancing hormones, such as endorphins, into the bloodstream that help to heal, rejuvenate and renew our bodies.  It can also strengthen our immune system.

Laughter can be contagious – in a good way.  The brain responds to the sound of laughter by preparing the face to laugh and smile.  If you laugh, the chances are that people around you will relax and laugh too.  So just by laughing you can improve your own mental and physical health and the wellbeing of the people you live and work with. 

What would make you have a good laugh today?  Do you have a favourite funny movie or TV programme that you could watch?  Or is there a book that really makes you laugh?  I remember the first time that I read The Diary of Adrian Mole I was incapacitated with laughter.  Even better, could you sit down with some family or friends and remember some happy, funny memories?

Whatever you do today, take your medicine – have a good laugh!

Good Resolutions

 Good Resolutions

What have you decided to change in your life in 2012?  Is it something you want to stop doing - smoking, drinking too much, over eating?  Or is it something you want to do more of - relaxing, exercising, learning a new skill?  

It’s good to have a goal for positive change and remember, if the road to hell is paved with good intentions, the road to heaven is paved with commitment and good planning.  So, whatever you've decided to do, here are some tips for making it happen.

Step 1 Know what you want to have happen

• Close your eyes and visualise what you want. State it in the positive eg “I want to be a size 12”, “I want to breathe easily”, “I want to spend two hours a week exercising”.
• What will you see, hear and feel when you achieve your goal?
• When do you want to achieve it by? eg a specific date or special occasion.

Step 2 Plan how you are going to get there

• What resources do you already have? What resources do you need?
• What options do you have to help you achieve your goal?
• Do you need any advice or support?
• What actions are you going to take?
• What obstacles might you experience? How might you overcome them?

Step 3 Make a commitment

• Tell someone else what you are going to do or
• Join a group with the same goals

Step 4 Work the plan

• If you move off of the plan one day, forgive yourself and start again

Step 5 Enjoy your achievements!

 

Good Luck and Happy New Year