Sleep is something you used to do – before kids and snoring hubby – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Find out what’s robbing you of shut-eye and how to get it back. Is the occasional sleepless night turning into a regular rut of tossing and turning? If so, you need to put restful slumber at the top of your to-do list. After all, chronic sleep deprivation is a serious health risk.
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1. You’re eating late, heavy meals. A hearty steak dinner, complete with a thick piece of chocolate cake is a great way to end a day. But hold off on the foodfest. Eat dinner at least 2-3 hours before bedtime, so your body is done with most of its digesting. 2. Your mind is churning with worries. Your husband was laid off and you’re fretting over whether you’ll be able make the mortgage this month. You’re not alone. It’s important not to stress over not sleeping too. If you can’t stop thinking about work, a relationship gone sour or tomorrow’s tasks, distract yourself with music, an audio book orsoothing sounds from a white-noise machine. 3. You end the evening with a nightcap. True, a scotch just before you head to bed is relaxing and will help you fall asleep. But in the long run, it’s actually a sleep stealer. That initial drowsiness doesn’t last. Why? Alcohol disrupts production of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that regulate sleep stages, especially later in the night. A healthier option: a cup of milk, chamomile tea or another warm, non-caffeinated liquid. |