A healthy night’s sleep is often the best treatment for the anxiety and stress of everyday life. How many hours do you sleep each night? More important, how WELL do you sleep each night?
Doctors and sleep specialists all agree that these practical tips will bring better rest:
Don’t eat after eight p.m. at night. The stomach doesn’t like to work when the rest of the body is getting its rest. Heartburn can turn a late night snack into late night insomnia.
Keep the lights dim, long before going to bed. When possible, use only indirect lighting in the rooms where you spend your evenings. This sends a signal to the brain that sleep is on the way, and it begins to slow down and relax.
Don’t leave important decisions until you can ‘sleep on it.’ This only keeps you awake looking for solutions when you’re in bed. Instead, either work out problems in the late afternoon, or discipline yourself to say “I’ll make that decision tomorrow.”
Don’t go to the gym too late in the evening. Never workout after seven at night. Your body needs several hours to resume its normal metabolism after a strenuous workout. That said, there’s much to be said for getting at least a minimum of exercise each day, because that has been proven to increase the healthy sleep you need each night.