A Better Night’s Sleep Tonight

17 Mar A Better Night’s Sleep Tonight

It’s a matter of public record: Americans have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep. Sleep in America polls, conducted on behalf of the National Sleep Foundation, report that about 20 percent of Americans get less then six hours of sleep on average. The Sleep in America polls and several other large studies have linked sleep deficits with poor work performance, driving accidents, relationship problems, and mood challenges like anger and depression. Heart disease, diabetes, and obesity have all been linked to chronic sleep loss. In light of the findings, thought I might share this blog by Sarah Klein from HuffPost Healthy Living: “37 Scientifically-Backed Tips for Better Sleep Tonight.”

We know we’re supposed to get enough sleep, and we really try.

But we also know it’s often easier said than done.

Luckily, there are a handful of helpful tips and tricks experts swear by, to combat sleep problems both big and small. Whether they’ll help you get into bed more relaxed or get out of bed more rested, we’ve compiled our definitive list of all the best sleep tips — just about ever.

1. Set an alarm to go to bed.
If you find yourself consistently wishing you had hit the hay earlier but staying on track with a calming bedtime routine is virtually impossible for you, consider setting yourself an alarm — to go to bed.

2. Resist the urge to snooze.
Sleep caught between soundings of that alarm is just not high-quality sleep. The snooze button often disturbs REM sleep, which can make us feel groggier than when we wake up during other stages of sleep. You don’t have to launch out of bed in the morning, but setting the alarm for a slightly later time and skipping a snooze cycle or two could bring big benefits.

3. Go easy on the alcohol before bed.
While that nightcap really can make it feel easier to fall asleep, when your buzz wears off later in the night, you’re more likely to wake up frequently.

4. Slip on some socks.
Some people have the unlucky lot in life of colder-than-comfortable extremities. But having warm hands and feet seems to predict how quickly you’ll fall asleep, according to a 1999 study. Speed up the process by pulling on a pair of clean socks before climbing into bed.

5. Keep your bedroom dark…

Continue reading here.