Different stages of our lives may interfere with restful slumber, whether there’s a new baby in the house or a teenager that just started driving. Daily stress (and our ability to handle it) can also impact our sleep at night, but there are some tips from the Mayo Clinic that will help alleviate disrupted sleep patterns in most situations.
It’s important to stick to a sleep schedule. Of course there are times you want to finish watching that great movie or have theater tickets that keep you up later than usual, but by sticking to a regular schedule you’ll have the advantage of “training” your body with a sleep pattern suitable for you. By the time we are adults, most of us know how many hours per night we require, and it varies from person to person.
Electronic devices and television stimulate. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but ipads, computers and the TV screen can stimulate and if you are having problems falling asleep at night it might make sense to turn to a good book instead.
Watch what you’re eating and drinking. Did you know that too much alcohol before bed may help you sleep but can cause disruptive slumber during the night? Monitor your intake of too much food (can cause discomfort), alcohol, nicotine and caffeine before reaching for that pillow.
Exercise! Yes – just one more reason to exercise daily. If you want to sleep well at night, get regular exercise and it will help tremendously. For some, exercise too closely to bedtime keeps them awake so do what’s best for you.
Limit stress. If you have too much stress, it may follow you into your dreams. Figure out a way to alleviate stress and you’ll find you’ll sleep much better.
Sometimes, no matter what we do, sleep doesn’t improve. If you’ve tried everything and are still not sleeping well, contact your physician and he’ll be able to delve a little deeper into your sleepless nights.