Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/photogallery/goodnightsleep.aspx#/slide-8
Stop the tossing and turning! Try these snooze-friendly tips.
When responsibilities mount, sleep is the first thing to drop off the priority list. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, as many as 47 million Americans are sleep-deprived. And that’s a problem since experts argue that getting adequate zzz’s is as important to health and well-being as diet and exercise. If you have a hard time falling asleep, wake up often in the night, or feel exhausted and doze off in the daytime, try the following tips for a more restful slumber.
Stick to a Schedule
You’ve heard it time and time again – wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends. Why is this so important? It all relates to circadian rhythms. “Sleep is a homeostatic process [a system where our bodies regulate automatically based on our daily patterns],” says Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego and a spokesperson for the National Sleep Foundation. “If you sleep in, it might affect your ability to fall asleep the next night, since you have to be awake for a certain amount of time before you’ll be sleepy enough to go to sleep again.”
Pick a Relaxation Ritual
Turn Everything Off
Create a Safe Haven
Get Comfy
Watch What (and When) You Eat
Don’t eat anything two to three hours before your regular bedtime. The same rule applies to liquids. You don’t want to disrupt your slumber because of the need for a bathroom trip. Avoid eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime, or spicy foods, which may cause heartburn and make it difficult to fall asleep. But you don’t want to go to bed hungry, either. “Again, it’s doing what makes you feel comfortable,” says Ancoli-Israel. Then you’ll rest easy.
Fit in Fitness
Just don’t do it right before bedtime. Study after study has shown that people who are more physically active get better sleep. “When you exercise, body temperature goes up, and it takes about six hours for it to drop again,” says Ancoli-Israel. And since a cooler body temperature is associated with the onset of sleep, an ideal time for exercise is the late afternoon.
Set the Stage for Sleep
Keep work, computers, TVs, and other distractions out of the bedroom. Reserving the bedroom for sleep and sex actually helps strengthen the association between bed and sleep. Reading in bed, for example, is fine if it helps you fall asleep. “It’s very individual,” says Ancoli-Israel. “What works for one person may not work for another.” She even suggests taking sex out of the bedroom if it isn’t relaxing for you and doesn’t promote sleep. Bottom line: When you’re in the bedroom, engage in activities that help you relax.
Use Your Imagination
Your typical waking and sleeping times are programmed in your subconscious mind. Instead of counting sheep, try resetting the program. “Both imagery and hypnosis bring your brain into a deeply relaxed state,” explains Donna Fremon-Powell, aertified guided imagery therapist, a certified hypnotherapist. “In this alpha-brainwave state, the subconscious mind is more willing to accept beneficial suggestions, such as ‘You sleep soundly through the night and wake fully refreshed and alert in the morning.'” Hypnosis and guided imagery – even listening to an imagery CD as you fall asleep – can help you change negative sleeping patterns and achieve more restful slumber.
Say No to Smoking
If you need one more reason to stop smoking, here it is: Nicotine disrupts sleep. So too, do caffeine and alcohol – and the former lurks in more than just your morning cup of joe. Tea, soda, and chocolate all contain caffeine, and they stay in the body for three to five hours. “People also need to be careful about what medications they’re taking, whether they’re over-the-counter or prescription medications,” claims Ancoli-Israel. Beyond the caffeine contained in some of these drugs is the fact that drugs, by definition, activate and mobilize your system – and that makes it harder for you to fall asleep. Take medications and herbal supplements or other remedies early in the day, and don’t drink in an effort to fall asleep. Alcohol may make you feel sleepy initially, but it actually interferes with restful sleep.
Enjoy the Daylight
The body’s natural sleep hormone,melatonin, is secreted in darkness and inhibited in light. So getting sufficient exposure to light during the day can help you stay awake and alert. By the same token, keeping your bedroom as dark as possible at night can help promote the production of melatonin and the onset of sleep. And while you can buy melatonin over the counter as a supplement, Ancoli-Israel claims it isn’t the same as the melatonin produced by the brain. Still, 1 to 3 mg of melatonin taken half an hour before bed has proven helpful for some individuals, but Ancoli-Israel claims there’s no scientific evidence to support the use of melatonin as a sleep aid.
Write It Down
Instead of ruminating over the day’s dramas right before bed, set aside a worry time earlier in the day, suggests Ancoli-Israel. “It sounds silly, but if you take 10 or 15 minutes to sit and worry during the day (with the Blackberry and beeper off), it frees you from having to think about those concerns when you get in bed at night.” If your sleep problems persist, keep a sleep diary, noting the type of problems you’re experiencing and when they occur. It’s a useful tool to have when you talk to your doctor. Read about other sleep tips that may help.
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Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/photogallery/goodnightsleep.aspx#/slide-13
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