Getting a good night’s sleep has always been important for health reasons, but it can also be used to avoid those sticky issues that crop up in everyday life that need to be solved. Feeling refreshed and ready to face the world has always been easier when a person has gotten the right amount of sleep, and problem solving and scheduling issues seem easier to resolve when the brain is functioning well. Getting enough rest depends upon falling asleep when it is bedtime and staying asleep all night long, so here are a few ways to accomplish it.
1. Less Caffeine
It would seem reasonable to anyone that cutting out caffeinated drinks right before bedtime would solve issues with falling asleep, but that is not the only time it should be diminished. For those who are not pulling an all-night work or study session, cutting out caffeine starting in the afternoon is actually more helpful. The body does absorb and eliminate the stimulating effect, but it can take longer as people age. Switch to a beverage with no caffeine or less beginning in the afternoon to fall asleep faster and get better rest all night long.
2. A New Look at Meals
Many people have traditionally eaten their biggest meal in the early evening, but it is not always a good recipe for being able to sleep well. Eating increases the body’s temperature, and digestion can interfere with sleeping and even nodding off. If it is suspected that this might be an issue that keeps a person from sleeping, take a new look at what to eat for dinner. Switching lunch and supper might be the best prescription available for a restful night.
3. Turn Electronics Off
The modern world has morphed into a wonderful panacea of options, and electronics are often at the heart of it. Being able to connect with others across the globe, reading new books before they can be printed and sold in stores, or even looking up odd facts here and there are all part of the world today. It is unfortunate that research has found these helpful devices can interfere with the body’s natural need for sleep. Turn them off each night well before going to bed, and read a good book or take up a hobby instead to relax the body naturally before climbing into bed.
4. Alternative Beverages
There are plenty of drinks that can replace coffee, tea and alcohol in the evening for those who find getting to sleep and staying there has become a chore. Warm milk releases natural tryptophan into the body, and it can be even more effective when combined with a reasonable about of carbohydrates. For those on a diet that eliminates or reduces carbohydrates, trying herbal teas might be a better solution. They do not contain caffeine, and many of them are made with herbs known to help people feel relaxed. A soothing drink of chamomile tea in the evening can be relaxing, and even a drink made with lavender can be a good way to let the body know it is time for bed.
These are just four ways to help avoid the things that can keep someone up long past their bedtime, and trying even one might result in a good night of sleep to wake rested the next day.
