SleepCompass

Why do we sleep? Who knows? Who cares?

2008-11-14T17:07:00.003-05:00

Why do we sleep? Nobody knows!There are many theories, ideas, traditions and explanations.Medicine and Science describe the function of sleep, but not the reason why we sleep, as having to do with resting the body and muscles that we used through out the day. Or there are theories about memory consolidation, addressing psychological issues, establishing hormone balance. However, a simple, unique

Choose to Sleep or Not- Choice vs. Choicelessness

2008-10-29T19:23:00.000-04:00

There are only 2 ways to look at choice and choosing, either you are the chooser or you are not! If you are the chooser, it has to be that you are ALWAYS choosing what you think is best for you at every instant. That is, what ever you are choosing to do, at the time of the choice, it has to be the best thing you can choose...or else you would choose something better. Later (after the fact), it

Surrender to Sleep

2008-10-18T16:06:00.000-04:00

If you can not sleep tonight, why not try surrendering to God, the Universe, Consciousness, or your own Higher Power. Then observe what happens. I learned to do this last year (2007), when sleeping in uncomfortable, and unpleasant environments. Within a few nights I was OK, whether I slept or not! And soon I began to sleep, at 1st just good enough, but eventually really good! Indeed, it seemed

How far will we go?

2008-10-15T03:00:00.005-04:00

4th of July and just enough money to eat on 'til payday. I was on my way to see a friend in a prison half way house. His favorite holiday is Independence Day, and prison or not, he has the greatest respect and love for his country. I didn't want him to celebrate it alone. I had $15 on me, enough to stop and get us both a milkshake to celebrate in the summer heat. When I got off the exit ramp, I

Steve O'Connor-Manager of Music Dreams...

2008-10-11T23:03:00.001-04:00

Visiting 'Guitar Center' on Okeechobee Blvd in West Palm Beach, Florida, is like touring 'Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory' for Music enthusiasts.... Instead of the blue Oompla Loompas workers running the factory, the stores helpful, friendly and most importantly, knowledgeable employees are found throughout in black shirts with the Guitar Center logo. The store is divided into different flavors,

Would you serve on the Lunch Line in Heaven?

2008-10-03T01:38:00.002-04:00

Would you serve on the Lunch Line in Heaven?andStand in back of the counter as the souls go by in line, picking their main course; bread, wheat, chafeandGreen leafy vegetables?Dessert or no dessert, Jello, Jello, doing the Hula in bright Red or Green?orMaybe a Brownie, Hot and Black topped with the White and Cold ice cream?Would you stand there helpfully, replenishing what runs out, offering

EterniaNow-

2008-09-20T23:47:00.010-04:00

Mythology says that Sleep is Death's half brother. Sleep is a matter of faith, faith that we WILL wake up. Death, however, is a certainty. But what if one of the reasons we can't sleep is the worry that when Death comes, we will be forgotten? It used to be a given that having children secured our legacy, insuring that part of us will always continue on. Today the world has changed, families

Do it Anyway!

2008-09-08T20:20:00.021-04:00

For all of us who have experienced sleepless nights due to concerns over life issues or have a busy mind that won’t stop rethinking the days events or even worry about the future in these uncertain times. Perhaps reading these words will inspire us to “do it anyway”, to have faith in the face of uneasiness, uncertainty, and adversity. It is during that "feel good" zone that we are propelled

Children of the Night!

2008-09-06T16:40:00.005-04:00

'True Blood' premiers September 7th at 9 pm on HBO. It is a wonderful new television series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris (check out the too cool official web site at http://www.trubeverage.com/)'Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She

Sleep Works for You! Let it or Make it

2008-09-01T17:15:00.016-04:00

At sleepcompass.com we stress the importance of sleep in daily life. It's a basic necessity of life, as important to our health and well-being as air, food and water. When we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed, alert and ready to face daily challenges. When we don't, every part of our lives can suffer. Our jobs, relationships, productivity, health and safety (and that of those around us)

HOT FLASH!!!

2008-08-30T16:40:00.018-04:00

If you've had one, there's no mistaking; it's sudden and intense! The flash usually affects your upper body and face, perhaps preceded or accompanied by a number of disruptive symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and sweating, anxiety, or headache. The flash is followed by a flush, leaving you reddened and perspiring and there is no way to hide it. You can have a soaker (UGH!), or merely a moist

Nappuccino please, extra foam!

2008-08-27T16:22:00.016-04:00

One Nappuccino please. An afternoon one, no longer than 20-30 minutes.I come from a long line of nappers. My mother is from the deep South and when I was little, we used to go there to visit my grandmother. EVERYONE there would take a nap from noon to 2. Businesses closed down, traffic was non existence and no one came to visit because without air conditioning, everyone tried to wait out the

2008-08-26T14:56:00.004-04:00

WHAT TO DO WHEN NOT SLEEPINGHow much sleep is enough? There is no one answer!! At best, the recommended amount is to sleep enough so that one functions optimally. This begs the question, “what is optimal fucntion?” It is difficult enough to know optimal physical function (no fatigue, “achyness”, tired feelings, etc.), and even more so, optimal mental or emotional fucntion. And then there is “

Riding The NightWave...

2008-08-20T08:23:00.006-04:00

So you've been surfing the Internet for hours and suddenly, you realize-"I HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING!" Which means-"I HAVE TO GET SOME SLEEP!" How do you calm a mind racing with thoughts?Catch a 'NIGHTWAVE!' There are so many good things about this gadget, let's use bullet points!it's so small, it fits in the palm of your hand!it only has 1 button, no fumbling for controlsit has more than one

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

2008-08-19T17:23:00.007-04:00

Ah, you can PRETEND! Work with me here-This is a GREAT DVD, I brought it to 2 different friends homes, hit 'play' and asked them what they thought. Well... I had to wake them up first!I'm chattering away, trying out the 'mood music' or just using the fireplace sounds and when I turned to look, they were asleep! There IS something that is so comforting about fire, I think it is in our DNA.Fire

Stormy Weather-

2008-08-18T12:43:00.008-04:00

Being in the middle of hurricane season and having a tropical storm headed my way, made me think- are there any advantages to sleeping now?Team Advantage:It's dark outside at the crack of noon. That's a big change from the bright Florida sun!It's cooler outside at the crack of noon. (See above )You never sleep alone because all of your cats and dogs and birds and hermit crabs are somewhere in the

The Watermelon Factor

2008-08-17T21:22:00.011-04:00

It’s summertime and the heat is on! One of my favorite foods to eat during these hot days of summer is watermelon. It’s juicy, refreshing, thirst quenching and low in calories since it’s 92% water (Weigth Watcher’s pick of the season)! I was reading one of my favorite magazines only to discover the melon that I take such pleasure in eating is really good for my health! Did you know that the cool

Does drinking coffee do this to you?

2008-08-17T10:18:00.004-04:00

I Have Friends (Hello Nancy!) that keeps Starbucks in the black and Juan Valdez with his rich Columbian beans in a 401 K. And they NEVER look like this! This is an actual photo of me at noon after working my night shift in the Sleep Lab. That 12 o'clock sun can be murder on the eyes, to a night owl like me! It is light that sets our circadian rhythm and lets us know when it is appropriate to go

Secret to becoming Happier? Only $6.95!

2008-08-11T02:50:00.011-04:00

Want to learn how to make your life simpler, become more happy, get more productive? Sure you do! Leo Babauta's new E-book is here, 'Zen habits-Handbook for Life' Starting in early 2007, with no readers and no idea how to blog, Leo Babauta's 'Zen Habits' website has been named 'Best overall Blog' in 2007 Performancing Blog Awards and now has a readership of over 64,000! Zen Habits covers:

Feng Shui and your Bedroom...

2008-08-03T12:57:00.016-04:00

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice originating in the Taoist philosophy which concentrates on creating a living space that give way to a harmonious mind and body. “Chi” is a Chinese word that translates as “life energy” and has two essential qualities – yang (energizing) and yin (passive) . It’s very important to create a balanced and relaxed atmosphere in the bedroom to induce a blissful

Jane Says...

2008-08-02T19:51:00.006-04:00

Traveling in different time zones disrupts the production of Melatonin. Lack of light is what causes the pineal gland to secrete this hormone. (this is why it is important for your bedroom to be as dark as possible) Basically, when it's dark, the pineal gland makes melatonin and our bodies think 'Time for bed!'It's because of this fact, so many people advocate the use of Melatonin supplements.

Leaving on a Jet Plane....

2008-08-02T14:25:00.014-04:00

I had an interesting phone conversation with a very successful business executive. We were trying to set up another phone conference and I asked him if Sunday night after 7 pm was too late to call.'Are you kidding? he said 'I answer my phone 24/7! My secretary is flying back from China the night before and I live on both coasts of the country. I'm always up!'Wrong thing to say to someone who's

Practical Tips For Great Sleep

2008-07-28T07:01:00.006-04:00

Practical Tips For Great Sleep-1. The bedroom should be used for 2 things- Sleep and Sex. Not for paying your bills, using it as your office, or despairing over the exercise equiptment you aren't using. If you can't sleep, have sex- at least you will be enjoying yourself.2. The 2 things that induce sleep are- temperature and light. The cooler the room, the darker the room, the better. Most

Courage to Sleep like a Dog...

2008-07-26T09:26:00.010-04:00

And he does, bless his heart. He's a happy boy, he's a happy boy. Cheerily dragging one of my nieces Beanie Babies down the hallway, through the kitchen off into the netherlands of the laundry room. Checking out the cat's food and

What Happens In Deep Sleep?

2008-07-23T21:35:00.016-04:00

We know that there are stages of sleep and the deepest stage is Delta sleep, when the body restores itself and growth hormones are released. This typically occurs in the first few hours of sleep. If you’re a sleep technologist you will see that the brain waves slow and the body seems to show a normalizing of oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate and we see rhythmic breathing.Is this the time

Bedtime Prayer

2008-07-18T15:40:00.010-04:00

The Hush of Heaven holds my Heart tonight,The Peace of GOD quiets my mind...And in this stillness Sleep arrives,I REST IN GOD...Good Night, Sleep safely,Gus, Jane, and Nancy Discover the Gift of Sleep

Zen and The Art of Towel Folding

2008-07-16T21:04:00.019-04:00

We do our own laundry in the sleep lab. Green and blue sheets and blankets and...towels. There is something so soothing about taking a warm, clean towel out of the dryer and burying your face in it. The smell of fabric softener, (ah, Snuggle!) and the softness of the cloth against your face is very comforting.People suggest that when you can't sleep, try counting sheep. Never worked for me, I get

Powerful Medical Intention

2008-07-16T16:05:00.013-04:00

Installing into the subconscious mind (subc) as much as you can, as often as you can, will cause the things you install to manifest in your world! This is scientifically guaranteed, and the principle mechanism for auto-suggestion. The subc will perform without judgment all that is programmed into it, regardless of what your conscious mind (cons) thinks or feels about the subject! Hence, the

Fear No Darkness, Promised Child Lyrics

2008-07-15T02:20:00.011-04:00

by Timo Raisanen-Hold my hand; rest assured, I won't fail you.Calm your heart; I am here right behind you.So wipe your tears oh chosen one.Don't be scared, no need to run.You will see though it's dark, your heart will blind the night.The two of us, we shall relent when you shine your light.I shall comfort you so fear no evil, as you know:I shall guide you. I will lead you.Fear no darkness,

Afraid Of The Dark

2008-07-15T01:44:00.013-04:00

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." Charles Austin BeardMy patient was a middle aged successful financier. World traveler, well educated, articulate. I asked him what brought him into the sleep lab and he said 'I have insomnia.'I talked to him about good sleep hygiene, including the fact that the 2 things that induce sleep, are temperature and light. The cooler the room, the darker

Marketing Sleep For Babies

2008-07-08T04:25:00.013-04:00

Do you know what is the best time to shop at Wal-Mart? Yup, you guessed it, it's those magical hours anywhere between 10 pm and 6 am. Usually other night owls are there along with the diligent clerks busily stocking the shelves. It's a good time to wander through the baby section to find just the right present for a baby shower. Being in Sleep, the word itself always catches my eye and I saw a '

Discover The Gift Of Sleep

2008-06-29T16:04:00.009-04:00

How well did you sleep last night? We believe in the essential need for sleep. After all, sleep makes up 1/3 of our lives. In today's world, sleep is often taken for granted and downplayed in its importance.This blog features Gus, a neurologist, board-certified in sleep medicine, along with Jane and Nancy, two registered sleep technologists! What makes our team unique is our combined 50 years

Things That Go Bump In The Night...

2008-06-29T16:01:00.010-04:00

If you’re worried about-Things that go bump in the night and that is what is keeping you up, then Bump Back!Seriously. Become friends with a ghost. Not an angel. Angel means messenger-Western Union of the Heavenly Host?Candy-gram?Singing- gram?Telegraph with Telepathy?Nah, I want someone who used to worry about things in life like I do. Not a ’spirit’. But a ghost. Not a Pooka, like Harvey, the 6