The Daily Mind

Daily Steps To Mindful Living

sleep

11 Best Ways to Wake Up in the Morning and Hit the Ground Running

Body

So much has been said and written about waking up early in the day and how it allows us to get more things done. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the earlier you start, the more hours of the day you can use to your advantage. But how do you wake up in the morning and actually hit the ground running?

If you’re not a morning person, waking up in the morning can be one of the most difficult tasks in your life. Trust me – I know the feeling. However, the body and mind can be trained, and even a night owl can learn how to wake up in the morning earlier than usual and actually feel good about it. [Read more…] about 11 Best Ways to Wake Up in the Morning and Hit the Ground Running

Originally posted on July 8, 2014 @ 9:00 am

5 Unusual Ways to Beat Depression

Mental Health, Mind

Depression is a horrific thing, and most everyone goes through it now and then. There is the “natural” depression that comes and goes. This can be due to transient external or internal factors. The good thing is that this kind of depression is easier to deal with and beat. Then there is the more serious kind of depression, which will probably require professional help to deal with.

Since I am not a professional therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist, this post will be about the former kind of depression, which the average person experiences from time to time. You probably have read countless articles giving advice on how to beat depression, but let’s take a look at some unusual ways to beat depression that you may not have tried yet. [Read more…] about 5 Unusual Ways to Beat Depression

Originally posted on June 25, 2014 @ 9:29 am

7 Habits of People Who Always Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Body

We spend a LOT of our time sleeping. It’s the way the body and mind get to recharge. But why is it that so many people have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, and actually getting a good night’s sleep? Why is insomnia, in its different forms, such a common issue?

There are probably a wide range of reasons for this, depending on the person, his environment, and other issues; but we cannot ignore the fact that there are people who always get a good night’s sleep. How do they do it?

If you want to be like them, take a look at their habits which contribute to a good night’s sleep. [Read more…] about 7 Habits of People Who Always Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Originally posted on June 24, 2014 @ 9:27 am

4 Practical Things to Do When You Can’t Sleep

Body

I’ve always had sleep issues. They come in cycles. There are times when I fall asleep earlier than I would want to, but I’d wake up in the middle of the night – same time, every time. There are periods when I just can’t seem to do anything but sleep – day or night. Then there are periods when I can’t sleep till almost dawn.
insomnia
One thing I have learned is to ride out those periods until my sleeping pattern adjust to a reasonable cycle. I’ve also learned – by trial and error – how to somehow lull myself to sleep during those nights when sleep won’t come; or at least reach a state of semi-relaxation so that I am not totally useless the next day. [Read more…] about 4 Practical Things to Do When You Can’t Sleep

Originally posted on November 1, 2013 @ 1:43 pm

4 Power Nap Mistakes That Kill Your Energy Buzz

Body

Power naps are supposed to perk you up and give you the second wind you need to get through your day in a better mood. But are you getting the most out of the quick zzz’s you take during your lunch break?

If you want to make the most out of your nap time and be that guy in the office who doesn’t look like a zombie by the end of the day, then you’d better brush up on your power nap strategy to avoid the common mistakes below.

Charlie BrownPhoto Credit: Cplbasilisk

No wonder Charlie Brown’s always so depressed –  he never learned how to power nap!

 

1. Extended napping – Hitting that snooze button and getting an extra 5 – 10 minutes may work for you in the morning, but when it comes to napping, it is the biggest mistake you can make. Naps are supposed to be just 15 – 30 minutes long for a good reason. This rule was not invented by bosses who wanted their employees back at their desks ASAP, but has been proven by research to be the ideal period for napping. In fact, napping for more than 30 minutes will not give your more energy, but will actually leave you feeling groggier due to sleep inertia. So before you hit the slow wave sleep (SWS) phase where sleep inertia is at its peak, you’d better wake up. You’ll still feel slightly groggy after a 20-minute nap, but you can bet that you’ll be able to shake it off more easily than you would an hour long nap.

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Originally posted on October 3, 2013 @ 5:51 pm

7 Common Habits of the Perpetually Stressed

Body, Life, Mental Health, Mind

If you’re wondering why your life seems so stressful and are trying to figure out why, you might want to take a moment to look at yourself because YOU might actually be the major reason behind all the stress you’re having to deal with on a daily basis.

Life will always find a way to throw curve balls at you, inevitably making you feel stressed from time to time, but if you don’t watch the way you think and act your habits will amplify the stress and make it harder to cope with daily stressors. Here’s a list of 7 habits commonly exhibited by people who claim to be perpetually stressed. If you’re the sort of person who often feels drained at the end of the day, no matter how uneventful the day might have been, you’ll probably find yourself checking one item after another on the list below.

stressed nail bitingPhoto Credit: CileSuns

 

7 Common Habits of the Perpetually Stressed

 

1. Negative thinking – If you don’t think much about what you think and how you think, chances are that you also fall prey to negative thinking. Think about it. What comes to mind first when something doesn’t go your way? How do you talk to yourself when you make a mistake? If your thoughts automatically turn to the negative, then you can be sure that this is adds to your daily stress levels in a major way. You need to re-train yourself to be a positive thinker and change this bad habit starting NOW. Yes, you’ve got to start now and stop thinking that it’s too hard and start by telling yourself that you can do it. Remember, positive affirmations to yourself goes a long way!

[Read more…] about 7 Common Habits of the Perpetually Stressed

Originally posted on September 16, 2013 @ 1:09 pm