Good Habits for Good Sleep
Sleep may be elusive for you. In fact, it may be getting more elusive as time goes by. Perhaps all you need to change is some habits you may have picked up.
Perhaps all you need to change is some habits you may have picked up. Changing habits for good sleep is called sleep hygiene these days. Here are some habits to look at:
*Eliminating caffeine or chocolate. Try this for a few days. The effect of these two on your body can change over time. Taking caffeine or chocolate even in the morning may be able to affect your night-time sleep.
*Prolonged evening exercise. Taking you 30-minute walk at bedtime can keep you from sleeping.
*Sweets. Sugary items eaten close to bedtime may stimulate your system, and make it hard to fall asleep. Natural sugar such as what is in orange juice is no exception.
*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.
Finally, let’s talk about what you SHOULD be doing for good sleep hygiene.
*After supper, do calm things on purpose, in a calm manner.
*If you read near bedtime, read news magazines or other items that have no exciting 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!
