Good Habits for Good Sleep
October 21, 2009 Filed Under: Insomnia
Do you lie awake many nights waiting for sleep? Maybe you need to look at your sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is a relatively new concept. It helps you think of caring for yourself in preparation for sleep, just as you might care for your teeth. If you suffer from insomnia, you should take a look at various elements of your sleep hygiene:
*Caffeine. Perhaps as time goes by your body is not as adjusted to taking caffeine as it used to be. Cut out the caffeine (and possibly chocolate too) for a few days and see if that helps. Even caffeine or chocolate taken early in the day can cause problems at bedtime for some people, especially in middle age or later.
*Exercising in the evening. Exercise for your recommended 30 minutes can get your heart rate up and can keep you awake. Try exercising before 6 p.m.
*Sugar late in the day. Are you drinking or eating sweets late in the day? Sugar can be a stimulant, and as such can rev you up so you can’t sleep. Beware of natural sugar, too, such as the sugar in orange juice.
*Arguments. Instead of getting into arguments in the evening, make an appointment to argue the next day, preferrably not at bedtime!
*Creative projects. Are you working on a creative project late in the day? This can get your creative juices flowing too strongly at bedtime. This could be great for ideas for your project, but bad for sleep. Best to save these for the following day.
So what SHOULD you do for good sleep habits?
*After supper, do calm things on purpose, in a calm manner.
*Read short items such as news magazines, with no story line.
*If you want to watch TV or video, watch a documentary rather than a thriller or a whodunit.
Give these practices a try to see whether good sleep hygiene will make a difference for you!
About the Author:
If you want some ideas for an insomnia cure, you can try adjusting things you do habitually in favor of good sleep hygiene. You are looking for an insomnia remedy, but a habits change may allow you to spend less than other possibilities!
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Filed Under: Insomnia
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Do you lie awake many nights waiting for sleep? Maybe you need to look at your sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is a relatively new concept. It helps you think of caring for yourself in preparation for sleep, just as you might care for your teeth. If you suffer from insomnia, you should take a look at various elements of your sleep hygiene: Caffeine. Perhaps as time goes by your body is not as adjusted to taking caffeine as it used to be. Cut out the caffeine (and possibly chocolate too) for a few days and see if that helps. Even caffeine or chocolate taken early in the day can cause problems at bedtime for some people, especially in middle age or later.
Thanks for the tips. I’m good with caffeine, but not so good with sugar and others mentioned.
Great post! I agree with all of your key suggestions for getting a better nights sleep. But along with cutting out the caffeine and the chocolate, perhaps a workout routine would be a good suggestion. I believe that a healthy diet, along with a steady workout routine would do the trick. Try eating healthy for about 2 weeks, and performing a workout routine a few times a week for 20 minutes a day. I think that you will find that your sleeping schedule will change a great deal. You will not only start to feel a million times better than usual, getting into great shape, looking better, but you will sleep better at night as well.