How to get more sleep
I watch the clock every night, knowing that if I don't crawl into bed by my own personal witching hour, I'll never fall asleep. I'm like a kid -- if I get overtired, I just can't seem to doze off. Being chronically overtired may be one of the reasons that Americans are in dire need of more sleep, though other factors may contribute as well. If you're finding yourself falling well short of the seven hour minimum recommendation most health experts agree on, try one of these 10 strategies for better sleep and see if you can't get more rest:
- reduce anxiety by putting your problems to bed before you go to bed
- get more exercise during the day
- reduce light pollution before bed and in the bedroom
- cut the caffiene
- avoid alcohol
- reset your body's clock
- consider taking melatonin
- talk to your doctor about medication
- try cognitive behavioral therapy
- create a sleep debt
It's not easy to beat insomnia. In fact, sometimes it can be terribly frustrating, but if you can do it, your body and your health will thank you.
Gallery: Natural sleep - what works and what doesn't
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-04-2008 @ 9:36AM
bob sakamano said...
Wouldn't it be best to recommend people getting more sleep by doing more natural things than "get medication"
you were doing good until you suggested that!
Reply
3-04-2008 @ 9:49AM
Bethany Sanders said...
Bob,
Thanks for your comment. There were several suggestions in the original article that were natural remedies. But for some, medication truly is necessary. I don't think it's a front line approach, of course, but it is something worth talking over with your doctor when all else fails.
Bethany