“Bridging The Gap Between "Trying To Sleep" and "Actually Sleeping"
Dennis J. Henson
Important Medical Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and have no medical training. These ideas are based on my personal experience and independent study. Everyone is different; please do your own due diligence and consult with your doctor before attempting these methods.
The Ultimate Reset
Getting 7 to 8 hours of high-quality sleep each night is the ultimate biological reset for your body. During these hours, your brain flushes out toxins and consolidates memories, while your body focuses on cellular repair and hormonal balance.
​
This window of rest is a foundational requirement for emotional stability, cognitive clarity, and physical health. Yet, while the benefits of sleep are clear, the path to achieving it can often feel like a struggle. The following strategies represent a comprehensive listing of habits, environmental shifts, and physical techniques that have helped many people overcome the "trying trap" and develop a consistent, high-quality sleeping protocol.
I. Daily Routines
The journey to a good night's sleep begins the moment you awake.
​
-
Consistency in Sleep Times
Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day stabilizes your circadian rhythm: by avoiding "weekend shifts", where you sleep in late on Saturdays or Sundays—you prevent "social jetlag," keeping your internal biological clock perfectly synchronized.
-
Morning Sunlight or Grounding
Exposing your eyes to bright, natural light within 30 minutes of waking signals the brain to halt melatonin production, the hormone that makes you sleepy. Adding light movement, like a brief walk, jumpstarts your metabolism. If the sun is not up, substitute grounding, physically connecting with the earth, to reset your electrical balance, then expose your eyes to bright, natural light as soon as it is practical.
​
-
Napping Protocol
To avoid interfering with nighttime rest, stick to a 20-minute power nap for a quick alertness boost, or a full 90-minute sleep cycle to allow for a complete refresh. You must avoid the 45-minute mark, known as sleep inertia, which leaves you feeling more tired than before.
-
The Nutritional Buffer
Maintaining a 2-hour buffer between your last meal and bedtime ensures your body's energy is used for cellular repair rather than active digestion. Processing heavy food at night raises your core temperature, which can block deep sleep.
​
-
The Wind-Down
Dedicate the final 60 minutes of your day to a "digital sunset." By removing blue-light screens and lowering the ambient lights, you trigger the natural release of melatonin, creating a psychological bridge between the "hunt" of the day and the rest of the night.
II. Exercising:
Exercise is a powerful tool for promoting quality sleep, but timing is the key to preventing it from backfiring.
​
-
To align with your natural energy peaks, schedule vigorous workouts during daylight hours. It is crucial to avoid high intensity within 2–3 hours of bedtime. Intense movement raises your core temperature; your body needs that temperature to drop in order to initiate deep sleep.
-
As the sun goes down, switch to gentle activities like stretching or restorative yoga. These movements trigger parasympathetic activation, the "rest and digest" mode of your nervous system, which physically lowers your heart rate and prepares the mind for stillness.
III. Foods and Drink
What you consume acts as chemical signaling for your brain's sleep centers.
​
-
Strive to incorporate "sleepy" foods into your evening. Tart cherries, almonds, and turkey provide the raw materials your body needs to manufacture its own sleep hormones, natural melatonin & tryptophan.
-
Be wary of caffeine’s half-life and the sedating trap of alcohol. While alcohol might make you drop off quickly, it prevents high-quality REM sleep, leading to fragmented rest.
-
To avoid midnight wakeups, front-load your water intake throughout the day. Limit significant fluid intake 2 hours before bed, sticking only to small sips of relaxing herbal tea if needed.
IV. Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements
While physical hacks can reset the nervous system, your internal chemistry must be balanced to sustain sleep. These supplements act as biological keys, providing the raw materials your body needs to manufacture its own rest rather than forcing a "knock-out" state.
1. Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions, including the regulation of GABA, the neurotransmitter that quiets the brain. The Glycinate form is highly absorbable, specifically targeting the nervous system and relieving nighttime leg cramps without the laxative effects of other forms.
-
The Dosage: 200 mg to 400 mg taken 1–2 hours before bedtime.
​
2. Vitamin D3 & Zinc
Vitamin D3 acts as a hormone to support natural melatonin production and anchor your circadian rhythm. Paired with Zinc, which is essential for the metabolism of melatonin, these two improve the overall "quality" and architecture of your sleep stages.
-
The Dosage (D3): 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU daily (taken with a meal earlier in the day).
-
The Dosage (Zinc): 10 mg to 30 mg per day (do not exceed 40 mg).
3. L-Theanine & Valerian Root
L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, promotes "alpha" brain waves—a state of "alert relaxation"—without the morning grogginess. For those with a more restless mind, Valerian Root serves as a time-tested natural sedative to help the mind settle into a state of surrender.
-
The Dosage (L-Theanine): 200 mg about 30–60 minutes before bed.
4. Melatonin: The Sleep Hormone
Melatonin is your body's natural "darkness response." When supplementing, less is often more; you want to signal the brain, not overwhelm it.
-
The Dosage: Start with a low dose of 2 mg, only increasing as needed and not exceeding 8 mg.
5. Essential Co-Factors & Micro-Hacks
-
A quality Vitamin B-Complex, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E provide the necessary co-factors for the body to perform its nightly maintenance and cellular repair.
-
Cortisol Management: A small pinch of Sea Salt before bed can help lower "bad" cortisol levels and promote total muscle relaxation.
-
Nitric Oxide: While not a pill, focusing on nasal breathing boosts Nitric Oxide, which opens blood vessels and improves the circulation necessary for a drop in core temperature.Important Note: Always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new regimen. Magnesium and L-Theanine can enhance the effects of blood pressure or heart medications, and professional guidance ensures these biological keys fit your specific health lock.
Important Note: Always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new regimen. Magnesium and L-Theanine can enhance the effects of blood pressure or heart medications, and professional guidance ensures these biological keys fit your specific health lock.
V. OTC Solutions and Prepared Blends
It is perfectly understandable that after a long, productive day, the prospect of sourcing and measuring out individual vitamins and minerals can feel overwhelming. If you are too busy to manage a complex supplement stack, your first instinct might be to head to the local drugstore for a quick solution.
​
While that is a logical step, it is vital to distinguish between natural "synergistic blends" and synthetic sedatives, so you don't trade a night of sleep for a morning of grogginess.
Here is how to navigate the drugstore aisle effectively:
1. Natural Synergistic Blends: Relaxium®
If you find that individual nutrients aren't enough, or if you simply want a convenient, all-in-one solution, the brand ‘Relaxium®’ is an excellent choice. This is a proprietary blend designed to work with your body’s biology.
​
-
Why it works: It combines several of the high-impact natural aids we’ve discussed (like Magnesium and L-Theanine) into one balanced formula. This synergy often provides a more reliable "on switch" for sleep than a single mineral would on its own. It is generally safe for consistent use, provided your body responds well to the formulation.
2. The "PM" Trap: Synthetic Antihistamines
Most other common over-the-counter options, specifically those labeled as "PM" medications, should be viewed strictly as temporary, emergency fixes. These rely on synthetic Antihistamines to induce sleep.
​
-
The Drawbacks: While they can certainly "knock you out," they often interfere with the quality of your REM cycles. Many users suffer from significant morning brain fog, dry mouth, and headaches.
-
The Tolerance Factor: Your body adapts to these synthetic sedatives remarkably fast, sometimes in just a few days, meaning they lose their effectiveness and can lead to a cycle of dependency.
VI. Environmental Changes
To achieve deep, restorative sleep, your bedroom must stop being an extension of your office or living room. It should be a sensory sanctuary modeled after a prehistoric cave, a place designed for one thing: total surrender to rest.
The Three Pillars of the Sleep Sanctuary
The foundation of the "Cave Effect" relies on keeping your environment:
-
Cool: Aim for approximately 65°F (18°C). Your core body temperature must drop to initiate sleep; a cool room acts as a biological catalyst for this process.
-
Dark: Aim for total blackout conditions. Even a small sliver of light from a digital clock can disrupt melatonin production. Use blackout curtains or a high-quality eye mask to signal to your brain that the "sun has set."
-
Quiet: Silence is golden, but if your environment is unpredictable, use white or brown noise to mask disturbances. Brown noise, with its deeper bass tones, often mimics the soothing sound of distant thunder or a low roar, which is less jarring than high-pitched sounds.
Managing the Digital Sunset
In our modern world, the "cave" is often invaded by blue light from smartphones and tablets. This light mimics the sun and tricks your brain into staying alert. To fix this:
-
Initiate a "Digital Sunset" at least 60 minutes before bed.
-
Shift devices to "Night Mode" or, better yet, leave them outside the sanctuary entirely.
Additional Options if Needed
Essential Oils: Utilize relaxing aromas like lavender or sandalwood. These scents cross the blood-brain barrier quickly to trigger a relaxation response in the nervous system.
Sleep Frequencies: When it comes to sleep and brainwave entrainment, there are two frequencies that stand out above the rest for their ability to shift the mind from ‘active’ to ‘unconscious’.
The two most commonly used are:
-
Delta Waves (0.5 to 4 Hz)
-
Theta Waves (4 to 8 Hz)
The Power of Connection: The Biological Safety Signal
Finally, we must acknowledge that humans are fundamentally social creatures, and our nervous systems are wired for proximity. Snuggling or connecting with a loved one, or even a loyal pet, serves as a profound biological ‘safety signal’ that communicates security to the brain.
This physical closeness triggers the immediate release of oxytocin, often referred to as the "bonding hormone." As oxytocin levels rise, they act as a natural sedative, effectively lowering blood pressure and neutralizing cortisol, the hormone responsible for alertness and stress. By boosting this internal chemistry, you provide your body with the reassurance it needs to fully let go of the day’s tension and drift into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.
VII. Physical Approaches
When your mind is racing at 2:00 AM, you cannot simply tell it to stop; here are some physical hacks to ease your nervous system into the "Rest and Digest" state.
The 5-21 Breathwork: Your Internal Kill-Switch for Stress
When the mind is racing, you cannot simply "think" yourself into a state of calm; you must use the body to command the brain. The 5-21 Breathwork is a sophisticated rhythmic escalation designed to stimulate the Vagus nerve—the primary highway of your parasympathetic nervous system.
How it Works:Calmly inhale deeply through your nose for a count of 5. Exhale through your mouth for a count of 6.Hold your breath for a count of 7.Inhale again for a count of 8.Continue this alternating pattern of inhaling, exhaling, and holding, increasing the count by one each time until you reach 21.Repeat the process until you drift off.By the time you reach the higher numbers, your carbon dioxide levels stabilize, and your nervous system enters a state of total surrender, making the transition into sleep nearly effortless.By utilizing this specific cadence, you act as your own internal anesthesiologist, systematically lowering your heart rate and physically switching off the "fight or flight" response. This method doesn't just encourage relaxation; it forces a biological shift into the "Rest and Digest" state, clearing the mental deck for deep, restorative sleep.2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)Stress often hides in the body as physical tension. PMR involves systematically "scanning" your body to identify and discard that energy. How: Start at your toes. Tense them as hard as you can for 5 seconds, then suddenly release and feel the "dump" of tension. Move up to your feet, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, and so on. Eventually reaching your scalp. This contrast between extreme tension and relaxation forces the muscles to reset.