Saturday, November 8, 2008

I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep. Hubby and I met up with friends last night, dined at Barrio Fiesta, and had coffee at Starbucks. Perhaps, it was the mocha Frappuccino or the myriad things I’ve been thinking or both that kept me from getting that much-needed shut-eye. So what must one do to get a great night’s sleep?

1. Avoid reading a disturbing story, stop worrying, and shut off the lights, TV, and computer inside the room. All of these things stimulate the brain.
2. Avoid heavy eating before bedtime. This keeps your body focused on another activity: digestion. Eat something light instead, like a bowl of cereal with skim milk.
3. Avoid drinking too much wine. You might end up not sleeping at all.
4. Avoid caffeinated beverages, such as soft drink or iced tea. Caffeine is a stimulant that might keep you awake.
5. Take a warm bath. This is a great way to relax your body and soothe you to sleep.
6. Get a massage. This works the tension out of your muscles and helps induce sleep.
7. Listen to soft, soothing music. This is a great sleep inducer.
8. Drink warm milk. This will soothe your nervous system and help you relax.
9. Keep cell phones a good distance away from your bed. According to a new study, people exposed to cell phone radiation requires a longer time to reach deep sleep and spends less time in deep sleep overall.
10. Sleep in a comfortable bedroom. Keeping the thermostat at about 68˚F makes it easier for your body temperature to drop, an essential element to getting good sleep.

Sources:
Good Housekeeping; September 2008
http://www.kidshealth.org
http://www.well.com
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