Everybody benefits from restful sleep, so here’s a few tips to remember to get a better night’s sleep. Number one is maintaining good sleep habits
And that means going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each day. Even it’s the weekend! Also the bedroom is no place for that page turning novel, or watching TV. These activities can be stimulating to the brain, so move the TV out of your bedroom. Try not to exercise vigorously late in the evening, but certainly it’s okay and advisable to exercise during the day. Avoid taking naps, and of course limit caffeine, perhaps avoiding coffee, tea, and soda pop after noon so it washes out of your system. It’s probably even more important, to limit excess alcohol, as that “nightcap” can initially lead to drowsiness, but later poor sleep.
Eating a lighter, lower fat dinner might help as well. Some people get some help sleeping with melatonin and Valerian root, and they are certainly okay to try. In the long run, you should avoid sedating or expensive sleep prescriptions, as some of them can be habit-forming. If you try all these tips, and still are having problems sleeping, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can lead to poor sleep at night, and lack of energy and somnolence during the day. So if you’re told you snore, or perhaps stop breathing for short periods at night, please let your doctor know. Give us a call, or make an appointment, if you’d like to talk about insomnia.