Healthy Living
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bedtime habits that are ruining your sleep
partner
If you’re having
trouble falling asleep, you’re in good company. An
estimated 65% of Americans said they encounter sleep problems a few
nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep
Foundation. Sleeping too little is linked with an increased risk for
obesity and depression. But before you reach for a sleep aid from the
nearest pharmacy, it’s worth reexamining your nighttime routine. Some
of your
favorite evening rituals could be responsible for that tossing
and turning.
1. Setting a Bright Alarm ClockThe looming glare of your alarm clock can be distracting when trying to
sleep. The goal is to have as dark a room as possible. Block the bright
numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cell
phone alarm may also do the trick.
2. Counting SheepWhen you just can’t fall asleep, it’s useless to stay in bed. If you’ve
been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep
Foundation suggests doing something mundane, like balancing a
checkbook, reading or watching TV. An activity that demands marginal
brainpower will lull your mind. Before you know it, you’ll be crawling
back into bed genuinely tired.
3. Exercising Late at NightDaytime workouts will keep you invigorated for hours. That’s why you
don’t want to exercise within three hours of hitting the sack. Intense
physical activity raises your body temperature and pumps your energy
level—both interrupt a calm transition into sleep.
By Danielle Schloffel
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Related: sleep habits, sleep, health, good nights sleep
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Posted by Anita Wed Apr 8, 2009 9:00pm PDT
This article has so little information that it was a waste of time to publish. I expect more out of yahoo than this. I am truly disappointed!
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Posted by Wed Apr 8, 2009 9:24pm PDT
I think people know their bodies and everyone's different when it comes to excersizing and having the ability to fall asleep afterwards. It just needs to be tried out by the individual before relying on an article.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wed Apr 8, 2009 9:54pm PDT
Sometimes replacing an old mattress can work wonders, it did for me.
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Posted by Denise Thu Apr 9, 2009 12:22am PDT
i love how the girl in the picture is like all sexy hahaha
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Posted by Momma Thu Apr 9, 2009 1:27am PDT
I too have no trouble sleeping after a late workout. With this said, I really believe that which ever scientist(s) that came to this conclusion, has not actually tried this out themselves. Statisticly, many so called "scienctific" studies have been proven wrong from the gate! I don't pay many, if any scientifical studies much attention. Like many in their field, they are paid too much for so little effort and lack of information.
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Posted by Cheri Thu Apr 9, 2009 4:39am PDT
This may sound rather stupid, but I have suffered from sleep problems for most of my life but I have a trick that works more often than not. I think of a subject...movies, songs, us cities, whatever...then starting with "A" I try to think of twenty of the whatever that begin with that letter. I put a slight pressure on each finger as I think of one, then release the pressure after I get to 10 so that I can keep track of the next ten. I have never ever made it past the letter "E". I think what happens is that I get my mind so completely focused on one thing, that I actually end up drifting off to sleep.
Its a good way to shut off all the crap going on in my mind after a long and stressful day at work. I find myself laying there, planning the next day, replaying converstations, trying to recall if I did everything I was supposed to do. Basically mentally overanalyzing my entire life when I am trying to sleep. So this trick helps me alot.
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Posted by Jenny Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:53am PDT
Reading lulls the mind?
They should qualify the type of reading one does while trying to get some sleep.
Some types of reading material may be good for lulling one's mind, but a great deal of it will not. That is one of the long touted benefits of reading: to engage one's mind.
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Posted by gladys Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:04am PDT
I think we should try all posible natural ways to fall asleep. The pills for sure create addition.
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