Get Good Sleep, Some Tips for Insomnia
LifestylePublished Oct 17, 2008
Photo by Cafe Kristen
One night this week, I couldn't sleep. That's when I saw this post in the Newcomer's Club that let me know I wasn't alone. There were 20-plus insomnia posts in this thread--liamsmom31908 confessed that she was up watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
To give us night owls some relief, I went on search for basic info about getting to sleep and staying that way.
I found out from the New York Times Health Guide, that none of us should ever watch TV in bed (bummer), and I need to ban naps during the day (double bummer). Here are a few more tips:
- Establish a regular time for going to bed and getting up in the morning. Stick to this schedule even on weekends and during vacations.
- Use the bed for sleep and sexual relations only, not for reading, watching television, or working. Excessive time in bed disrupts sleep.
- Exercise before dinner. A low point in energy occurs a few hours after exercise; sleep will then come more easily. Exercising close to bedtime, however, may increase alertness.
- Take a hot bath about 1.5 - 2 hours before bedtime. This alters the body's core temperature rhythm and helps people fall asleep more easily and more continuously. (Taking a bath shortly before bed increases alertness.)
- Do something relaxing in the 30 minutes before bedtime. Reading, meditation, and a leisurely walk are all appropriate activities.
- Keep the bedroom relatively cool and well ventilated.
- Do not look at the clock. Obsessing over time will just make it more difficult to sleep.
How do you deal with insomnia?