Healthy Living

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

10 Tips for Getting Good Sleep

There’s a lot of advice out there about getting good sleep -- and it's very important. We quickly adjust to being sleep-deprived, and don't notice that we aren't functioning at a normal level, but lack of sleep really affects us. If you're feeling blue or listless, try going to sleep thirty minutes earlier for a week. It can really help.

Here are tips that have helped me get good sleep:

Good habits for good sleep:

1. Exercise most days, even if it’s just to take a walk.

2. No caffeine after 6:00 p.m.

3. An hour before bedtime, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking. Addressing envelopes—okay. Analyzing an article—nope.

4. Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.

5. Keep your bedroom dark. Studies show that even the tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle. We have about six devices in our room that glow bright green; it’s like sleeping in a mad scientist’s lab. I have to put a pillow over the cable box.

6. Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.

If sleep won’t come:
7. Breathe deeply and slowly until you can’t stand it anymore.

8. If your mind is racing (you’re planning a trip, a move; you’re worried about a medical diagnosis), write down what’s on your mind. This technique really works for me.

9. Slather yourself with body lotion. This feels good and also, if you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re hot, it cools you down.

10. If your feet are cold, put on socks.

Continue Reading Sixteen Tips for Getting Good Sleep on Intent.com

By Gretchen Rubin on Intent.com


Gretchen Rubin’s book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT   is an account of the year she spent testing the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from poplar culture about how to be happier. On her popular blog, The Happiness Project, she writes about her daily adventures in happiness.


Read More by Gretchen Rubin

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Comments 301-303 of 303
  • Esto's Avatar
    Posted by Esto Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:32am PDT

    It work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Abuse
  • heyns's Avatar
    Posted by heyns Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:10am PDT

    Lord almighty bless us all include the archtect of this page

    Report Abuse
  • MarianneW's Avatar
    Posted by MarianneW Sun Jul 5, 2009 10:18pm PDT

    If you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, while lying in bed ponder the difference between "your" and "you're" and between "lie" and "lay"; perhaps the best bedtime reading for you might be Modern English or Understanding and Using the English Language, both probably available on half.com and both probably guaranteed to put you to sleep before you can say "jackrabbit."

    Report Abuse
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