Textbook Mommy

5 Ways To Sleep Like A Baby At Night

2013-05-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

If you are an insomniac like me, then you definitely know how annoying it is when your body is so exhausted and all you want to do is go to bed but you just can't seem to lie still and keep your eyes shut long enough to fall asleep. However, there are certain things you can do to sleep like a baby at night. Not in the sense that you wake up every five seconds screaming, but those times when babies are out cold. The latter is what you want. Follow this list and that is what you will get.

1. Exercise

Any type of exercise will help you sleep better at night. First of all, you are doing something other than lying on the couch watching TV so your body will have the chance to actually get sleepy. When you go for a run or even take the dog for a walk, your heart rate is pumping and your body is working. By the time bedtime rolls around, you'll be ready for a good night's rest.

2. Don't eat right before bedtime

This is just asking to stay awake for a few more hours. Eat early. I'm talking senior citizen early. If you want to eat dinner at 5, you go right ahead. It will make you tired by 8 and you can be in bed by 9. Your body sometimes mistakes being tired as being hungry. So when 8 pm rolls around, you are snacking on a grilled cheese. However, what your body was trying to tell you was that it was tired. And you just woke it up with some food.

3. Hot tea

Particularly sleepy-time tea. This stuff is amazing. It has chamomile in it and up until a few months ago I didn't realize the effect that little ingredient had. It knocks you out. The best part is it's a natural knock out! So you don't have to worry about getting hooked on sleeping meds with a cup of hot tea because it's actually good for you.

4. Cut out sweets

Chocolate, ice cream, and candy all have tons of sugar in them. Obviously. What does sugar do? It wakes you up of course! If you do get the munchies at night, drink a huge glass of water instead of that big chocolate candy bar. I know, it's super tempting to chow down on some Nerds or a Milky Way, but don't! Your body will wake up feeling groggy after the sugar coma you just induced. Drink water, tea, or even a glass of milk to curb the craving.

5. Yoga

Yoga is the best stress reliever for a tightly wound person. It teaches you how to breathe. I know, you're probably thinking, "Um, hello, I know how to breathe. I'm doing it right now." But yoga teaches you how to regulate your breathing and slow your resting heart rate. It will make you healthier and certain yoga moves are perfect for helping you sleep better at night. It's true what they say: yoga is good for the mind, body, and soul!

About the author: Carly is a blogger for Smith Monitoring, a provider of both Duncanville home security and Austin home security systems. With these tips, she can fall asleep anywhere. Sometimes people think she is narcoleptic but she just has a love for snoozing throughout the day.

5 Reasons Your Child Should Have A Car

2013-05-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: State Farm via Compfight cc

Every parent cringes at the thought of their teen learning to drive and getting out on the road. They think about all the potential trouble they could get into and what they might be able to get away with that they couldn't before. They worry about their teen's driving ability as well as the ability of the other drivers on the road. In the end, though, most of these parents wind up teaching their teens to drive, or having them go to a driving school to learn the valuable life skill. Although it is natural for parents to fret about their child growing up, they may underestimate the personal growth and positive life lessons a teen learns by owning a car and relying on driving themselves as their primary method of transportation. The opportunities for self improvement that come along with this new and exciting transition are a stepping stone on the road to maturity. After this article you'll want to start looking into new car finance offers to prepare.

Convenience

Although it isn't a lesson, one reason why it is a good idea for your teen to have a car is the convenience it will add to your life. You won't have to tote them to school and back, drive them to practice, take them to friends' houses or any of those other chores parents so often get stuck with before their teen learns to drive. Along the same vein, teens will no longer have to worry about accepting a few extra hours at work or wondering if they can actually get a ride to play practice to participate.

Independence

When a teenager has a car of their own, they can learn to be an independent person. If they need to run to the store to get a book for school, a supply for a project or some other item that seemed to be utterly essential to obtain immediately when you were the one driving them around, they can do it themselves. Teens who might not otherwise have had the opportunity can start working at an after school job or participate in community activities.

Responsibility

Parents are often afraid that when teens are given a car, they will display the opposite of this trait. However, setting boundaries regarding curfew and having the teen pay for their gas money and car insurance or earn it by picking up younger siblings or running errands can turn this attitude around. A teen can quickly realise that their car is a tool, that it costs money and that responsibility is a must when using their vehicle.

Courtesy

We've all experienced lousy drivers on the road who cut people off, make rude gestures or speed away in anger. By teaching your teen to be a calm, polite driver, they will quickly learn that being courteous on the road can often lead to other drivers extending the same courtesy. This lesson can easily carry over into their social life.

Safety

Before your teen learns to drive, you may be concerned about how they're getting around. Public transportation full of strangers can be intimidating, walking alone can be unsafe and riding in a car full of other teens whose driving skills you don't know is downright terrifying. By teaching your teen to drive carefully and understand the rules of the road, you can be assured that their method of transportation is a safe one.

Mandy is a stay-at-home mum with 2 children in primary school, in her past time she loves to garden, travel, cook and write blogs for other stay at home mums and anyone with similar interests.

Is a Career in Forensic Psychology Really a Good Idea?

2013-05-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

While the field of forensic psychology is attractive to a large number of people, it may not be the right field for you if you don’t have the right personality or skills. Therefore, before choosing to pursue a career in this field, you definitely want to do your research into what careers can be pursued with an education in forensic psychology, as well as what the jobs within this field really entail. Because forensic psychology is such a vast field, the great thing is that getting an education in this field will allow you to pursue a variety of job opportunities. However, like all other fields of study, you want to think about what type of work you would want to pursue in the first place, in case you need to take any specialized courses or you need to pursue a more specific degree instead.

Read on to learn more about forensic psychology in order to determine if you would really like this line of work or if you should instead pursue a different type of career.

Forensic Psychologists Need Years of Education

In order to work as a forensic psychologist, you need to go through many years of difficult schooling. You’ll need a doctorate level degree in psychology, and you should specifically get a doctorate in counseling psychology or clinical psychology to really be qualified for this line of work. However, if you’re lucky, you can find a school that offers a degree in the field of forensic psychology instead, further narrowing down your career choice.

After spending anywhere from five to seven years in school to get your degree and appropriate level of training while you’re a student, you graduate and can go on to the next step, which is finding a job and getting the appropriate number of years of experience that will qualify you to become board certified. If you choose to, you can become certified as a Diplomat of Forensic Psychology, opening up new doors to many more clients and a more respectable reputation in the field.

The Great Things About Working in Forensic Psychology

Many people who pursue a degree in forensic psychology and are able to get a job working in field find plenty to love about it. One of the great things about this degree is the ability to pursue a variety of careers, including those in government, education, consulting and the court system. These jobs are challenging but also highly rewarding, so they’re certainly worth the time and effort. But the best thing about forensic psychology is the ability to help others who are truly in need of assistance.

The Cons of Working in Forensic Psychology

Like any other career path, forensic psychology also comes with its own set of drawbacks. Many people who work in the field complain of a high level of stress. The jobs within forensic psychology can be very nerve-wracking and they can eventually lead to burnout. If you don’t deal with frustration well and don’t like high-pressure environments, this career path isn’t right for you after all.

About the Author: Lisa is a writer who enjoys writing about career opportunities to help students find their best path in life. She knows how important it is to really analyze the pros and cons of every career before pursuing it. If you’ve decided that you’re ready, click here for forensic psychology degree resources.