FIVE WAYS TO SLEEP BETTER

Whether you’re eight, eighteen, or eighty, getting to sleep can be a problem.  By the time you’re my age, you’ve probably tried everything imaginable to deal with occasional bouts of insomnia.

You see a lot of  over the counter sleep aids at the drugstore,  but most of them don’t help  me. Awhile back, someone tweeted about an amazing sleep aid  that worked wonders for her.   I rushed out to buy the product, but alas,  it kept me awake all night.   What a bummer!   Finding an OTC drug  to help you   sleep is a matter of trial and error..  What works for one person, doesn’t work for the other.   Prescription drugs can pose a worse problem.  Once, after my husband took a sleeping pill his doctor prescribed, I found him doing laundry at 2 a.m.  The next morning, he couldn’t remember anything about it.

Insomnia

Of course, there’s no way you’re going to sleep well if something traumatic  has happened in your life.  Those are the times you just have to endure until you make it through the storm.  But even minor upsets can increase anxiety and keep you awake.

Here are five things that help me through the night.

1. . No caffeine after noon.  For years, I had to have coffee with lunch.  I’ve heard many people say they can drink coffee after dinner, and it doesn’t bother their sleep.  Well, good for them.  When I lowered my caffeine intake, I began sleeping better.  A great alternative for an afternoon beverage is green tea.  It’s contains an amino acid called theanine, which is supposed to be soothing.

2.   A  warm foot bath in the evening  while  watching television  or reading a book relieves stress and anxiety.   Pamper yourself with a foot bath if you’ve had a really bad day.

3. A walk in the park during the day.   One half hour of fresh air, sunshine and exercise makes a big difference. Once, when I was going through a tough time,  I walked my way out of my anxiety.  There was even a tree that marked the spot where I could feel the tension leave my body.  Swimming is another great exercise, if you have access to a pool.  And even if you can’t swim, water walking or an aquatic exercise class clears your mind and strengthens your body.

4.  No depressing movies  or TV shows about war, abuse,, murder, etc. etc.  Those shows always give me nightmares.   I don’t need to be reminded that the world can be a miserable place.  Give me Dancing With The Stars (especially the one with little kids)  for sweet dreams.

5.  Cover the digital clock on my dresser and the one in the cable box under the TV.  There’s nothing worse than waking up at 2:00 a.m., rolling over, and  checking  every few minutes to see if you’ve gotten any more sleep, and how much.  Don’t worry, you will wake up when the sun rises.

There are numerous habits, foods, and troubles that can keep you awake.   But  remember, you are not alone!   At any given time,  people all over  the world  are struggling with insomnia.

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