Ten Tips - For A Good Night's Sleep
- Keep regular hours. Keep your biological clock in sync by going to be at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning -- even on weekends.
- Develop a sleep ritual. Doing the same things each night just before bed cues your body to settle down for the night.
- Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation. It's difficult to get deep, restful sleep on a sleep set that's too small, too soft, too hard or too old.
- Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help to relieve the day's tension -- but not too close to bedtime or your may have a hard time falling asleep.
- Cut down on stimulants. Consuming stimulants, such as caffeine, in the evening interfereswith falling asleep and prevents deep sleep.
- Don't smoke. Smokers take longer to fall asleep, awaken more often and experience disrupted, fragmented sleep.
- Drink only in moderation. Drinking alcohol shortly before bedtime interrupts and fragments sleep.
- Unwind early in the evening. Try to deal with worries and distractions several hours before going to bed.
- Create a restful sleep environment. Sleep in a cool, quiet, dark room on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation.
- Make sleep a priority. Say "yes" to sleep even when you're tempted to stay up late. You'll thank yourself in the morning.