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Why everyone needs a good amount of REM each night.
Until I started studying hypnotherapy, I had little idea of why REM, or rapid eye movement, was so important for us. It accounts for around 20% of our total sleep each night and is when oubrain literally problem solves the events from the day before. During REM your body is in paralysis but your mind is
4 times as active as during the day processing all your thoughts. Think of it like a filing cabinet sorting through your stuff and moving it from part of your mind to your storage area.
If you find yourself waking up in the early hours of the morning with your mind busy with thoughts, or you wake up feeling exhausted in the morning, this may be a sign that you are holding too many worries and stress for your REM to deal with.
Tips to improve your REM include:
1) Set a schedule to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
2) Try to exercise 20 to 30 minutes each day. This doesn't need to be a sport - it could be walking the dog or going up and down stairs.
3) Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.
4) Listen to my deep relaxation download to help you go into a good sleep.