how to increase sleepiness
Your body needs to sleep in near-total darkness for optimum health. Darkness prompts the pineal gland to produce melatonin, a hormone that increases both sleepiness and length and quality of sleep. Too much light can compromise melatonin production, interfering with slumber. Some studies have suggested that low melatonin levels may be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, although the more common result of a too-bright room will be a poor night’s sleep. Use an eye mask or install light-blocking shades over your windows to prevent street lamps — even a full moon — from disrupting your sleep. Products to try: Gaiam’s silk sleep mask (gaiam.com). Be sure to wake naturally in the morning with a Chime Alarm Clock by Now & Zen.
Boulder, Colorado—an innovative company has taken one of life’s most unpleasant experiences (being startled awake by your alarm clock early Monday morning), and transformed it into something to actually look forward to. “The Zen Alarm Clock,” uses soothing acoustic chimes that awaken users gently and gradually, making waking up a real pleasure.
What makes this gentle awakening experience so exquisite is the sound of the natural acoustic chime, which has been tuned to produce the same tones as the tuning forks used by musical therapists. According to the product’s inventor, Steve McIntosh, “once you experience this way of being gradually awakened with beautiful acoustic tones, no other alarm clock will ever do.”
