5 Ways to Sleep Better Tonight
If you're reading this at 2 A.M., I feel your pain. Falling asleep and staying asleep seems to get more difficult with age (what teenager has trouble sleeping, right?). But there are steps you can take to get more of the rest you so desperately need.
1. Power downelectronics.
The first thing to do is to turn off the computer (once you've finished reading this, of course) and all of your tech toys, including the television. It's best to do this about one hour before retiring for the evening. Too much light sends mixed signals to your sleep hormones (which kick in at about 9 or 10 P.M.) making it harder to fall asleep. Try reading a book or magazine, instead.
Related: Your 7 Worst Habits and How to Break Them
2.Watch what you eat and drink before bedtime.
Enjoy any alcoholic beverages with dinner, but not later, and limit yourself to only a glass or two to keep from waking up in the middle of the night. Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages after 2 P.M. and skip heavy meals or snacks too close to bedtime.
3. Make time for exercise.
Have you heard that evening exercise disrupts sleep? Well, the new recommendation from The National Sleep Foundation is that working out is actually one of the best things you can do to promote sleep and it's okay to exercise any time, as long as it doesn't cut into sleep time.
4. Establish an environment that's conducive to sleep.
Make your bed and bedroom a place to relax. Clear out the clutter. Too many distractions in the room make it easier to focus on your to-do list and harder to focus on sleep. Dress your bed with sheets that feel smooth and soft against your skin and pillows that support and cradle your head and neck. Adjust the thermostat to a temperature that's cool, but not too cold.
Related: 7 Things You Didn't Know About Sleep
5.Look for products that contribute to your sleep experience.
If your body temperature fluctuates and you sweat in the middle of the night, try the new Sleep Dress Performance Sleepwear and Loungewear from Sheex ($24-$98) that's made from the same soft, super comfortable, moisture wicking knit fabric that keeps athletes cool. It's available in a variety of pieces, including tops, pants, shorts, and even robes, for both men and women. And launching in stores in August is the Sleep Serenity Collection from Febreze, an assortment of diffusers, air mists, and linen sprays in calming scents of Quiet Jasmine (my favorite), Warm Milk and Honey, and Moonlit Lavender. With one of these fragrances surrounding you, you'll have no trouble nodding off. Pleasant dreams!
-- Carolyn Forte
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