|
Tips for a Good Night's Rest
by Patty Liston
“People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.” Leo J. Burke
It is a natural fact that as we get older, falling asleep and staying asleep may become more difficult to do. There are exceptions, of course. My 86 year old mother could sleep through a Category 5 hurricane, while my 89 year old father will awaken to the sound of a leaf skipping across the balcony—the double paned sliding door closed, and carpet on the balcony floor.
If you happen to be more like my father than my mother, here are 4 ways that you may be able to improve those delicious 6-8 hours of necessary sleep.
- Get on schedule. Go to sleep at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time every morning—even on week-ends.
- Change your temperature. The ideal setting for sleep is a cool, dark room.
- If you are having trouble sleeping, try lowering the thermostat.
- At night, eat foods that contain melatonin such as oats, sweet corn or rice. This will help regulate your body clock. You may also try vegetables or whole grain pasta which contain serotonin—a natural chemical in the body that will help induce sleep.
- Avoid eating 3 hours before you go to bed, and of course...
- Skip the caffeine, which is a WOW stimulant.
- Use your bedroom for sleep, not work. Take your mini office out of the room. When you walk into your bedroom at night your body should be saying, “At last, time to go to sleep”.
Of course there may be practical reasons for sleeplessness such as side effects from drugs, or female hormonal changes. However, if these are not an issue for you, try these other remedies and “sleep tight”.
Contribute to the Cook'n Club!
DVO would love to publish your article, prose, photography and art as well as your cooking, kitchen and nutrition tips, tricks and secrets. Visit the Newsletter Submission / Win Win for All section in our Forum for more information and details.
|
|
