Insurance: Ten Tips to Ensure a Good Night's Sleep

Despite the fact that there are many situations that can stand between you and your need for the correct number of hours of sleep to ensure good health, there are many things you can do to increase the likelihood of a restful, restorative night’s sleep.

Here are some tips:

Establish a sleep/wake pattern by getting up at the same time every morning- regardless of when you went to bed.
Get 30 minutes of some form of exercise, such as brisk walking, every day. Be aware that too much activity late in the evening can stimulate the body and make it difficult to fall asleep.
Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool- ideally 18 degrees centigrade.
Don’t watch TV in bed, because it can leave your mind racing.
Reading before bed is relaxing and can induce drowsiness.
Stay away from caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea and some colas before bed. You may fall asleep, but find yourself wide awake at 2 am.!
Avoid smoking, as chronic tobacco use disturbs sleep.
Avoid eating a heavy meal before bedtime as digestive processes will make it difficult to get a restful sleep.
A small snack that includes carbs can help induce sleep. A not-too-sugary cookie, and a glass of warm milk, is a good pre-sleep choice.
Take a relaxing warm bath in the evening before going to bed.
Finally, if you can’t sleep, don’t fight it. Get up and read in another room until you feel drowsy.

(Information from Canadian Health Network)

printer friendly

Email this article