Ten Holiday Gift Ideas For Insomniacs

Since a good night’s rest is the cornerstone of optimal health and even positivity, I thought I’d offer up some suggestions for holiday gifts that an insomniac would really appreciate.

1. Consider trying a soundtrack from Pzizz (left), which calls itself “your personal sleep and relaxation assistant.” The tracks are different every time you listen to it and you can control how long to let the audio play. Export a program to your smartphone or IPod and keep it by your bed at night. It can help you decompress on business trips too.

2. If a short late afternoon nap is all you need, consider the Power Nap Kit from At Peace Media. It features three voice-guided power-nap sessions (disc 1) and three music-only power nap sessions (disc 2).  The kit includes a 44-page booklet about sleep, stress and power naps. It just might be the tool you need to help relax and rejuvenate you.

3. The Nightwave Assistant might work for you too. It’s a small appliance (the size of a cell phone) that projects a soft, changing blue light on the ceiling of your darkened room. By synchronizing  your breathing with the light, your body and mind are supposed to fall into a state of relaxation that promotes sleep. It’s worth a try if you’re sleep deprived. If it works, it’s small enough to travel with.

4. Alternatively, have you tried aromatherapy?  21drops, a line of blended essential oils, claims their Sleep product (#18) will calm a racing mind and settle your restlessness so you can get a good night’s rest. You apply it to your temples, wrists and back of neck and even under your nose.

5. Another prescription-free approach to better sleep can be found in The Republic of Tea’s “Be Well” line of red, caffein-free teas.  Their “Get some ZZZs” (#5) is an herbal blend of sleep-promoting Rooibos, Chamomile, Passionflower and Valerian. You’ll also find it in their Sleepytime Gift Set, which also includes pillow spray, an eye mask and ear plugs.

6. Perhaps relaxing music is more your thing. Dr. Machelle Seibel’s Healthrock series of music CDs includes “Sleep Tight,”  featuring 46 minutes of soothing, peaceful music that can make falling asleep easier. Dr. Seibel, who is director of the Complicated Menopause Clinic at the University of Mass., composed the music himself with his sleep-deprived menopausal patients in mind.  You can preview the music and then download the album, or order the CD directly from his website.  Also, check out his “Relax” CD featuring instrumental music that he also composed and performed, to help you wind down in the evenings after a hectic day.

7. If hot flashes are keeping you from getting a restful sleep, consider trying a new comforter this winter. Mulberry West makes silk-filled, cotton comforters that they claim offers a lightweight “veil of warmth.” As explained on their website, silk is a porous and natural fiber, which adjusts to temperature fluctuations and is known for strong ventilations.  If you’re throwing off covers every night, this might be a good solution for you (and your partner).

8. Meditation, even for 5-10 minutes a day, can have a profound effect on stress reduction and sleep quality.  If one of your new year resolutions includes a commitment to carving out more time for yourself, I highly recommend Dr. Joan Borysenko’s The Beginner’s Guide to Meditation, or her more recent Stress Less CD featuring two meditations created to “help reduce stress, improve sleep and create optimal health and energy.”  Dr. Borysenko, a pioneer in mind-body medicine and the author of 14 books, will be leading a weekend program beginning Jan 27th at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts. In addition….

9.The Kripalu center will hold a four-day workshop, beginning New Year’s day, on Gentle Yoga and Mindful Eating. Both of these programs are a fabulous way to help you start the year on the right foot. I’ve been to Kripalu and can tell you that the view of the surrounding hills and lake are worth the trip alone – even in winter.

10. If all else fails there’s always the latest edition of War and Peace, Tolstoy’s 1440-page epic novel with a new English translation that makes it a bit easier to get through. Sometimes just looking at such a massive book makes you tired enough to sleep.