Another Seven Tips For A Good Night's Sleep

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

19 May 2006 08:49 AM

1. Naps can be your best friend or your worst ally. Me, I'm a napper. I can snooze for an hour or two and still get into bed at the usual time with no problem. For some people, taking naps can make insomnia worse. If a nap isn't a good idea for you, you should make a point of getting up and moving around if you feel sleepy and it's not bedtime yet.
2. Skip the shower. A shower tends to wake you up. If you need some help relaxing, try a warm bath instead. A long, hot bath will help relax your muscles and give you some time to be alone and think, if you need it. Personally, I like a ton of bubbles and a good book in the tub with me.
3. A cool room may help you sleep better. I don't know about you, but if I'm too hot, I'm usually too uncomfortable to sleep. I'd much rather burrow down under an extra blanket in a cool room.
4. Keep an eye on the humidity. Ever wake up because your mouth and throat are dry? It's not a very good feeling, is it? Heating systems tend to keep the air very dry. A humidifier may help you sleep more comfortably.
5. Do you ever have those nights when you wake up after just a few hours of sleep? Or worse, the nights where you wake up several times? The stresses of daily life can easily throw your sleeping patterns out of whack. If you are wide awake on these restless nights, don't lay in bed agonizing. Get up and do something quiet for twenty minutes, then try getting back into bed. Don't fix yourself a special treat or have a smoke; your body may start getting you up every night for your midnight (or 2am, or 4am) treat.
6. Figure out how much sleep you need. Some people need more, some people need less. Keeping a sleep diary can help you discover the right amount of sleep. Make note of what time you got into bed and how quickly you fell asleep. Make note of what time you got up, and how you felt when you woke up -- alert, or still groggy and wanting more.
7. Last but not least... worrying about not sleeping is NOT going to help you sleep! Get your worries out somehow -- talk to a friend, or keep a diary -- so you can set them aside and sleep peacefully. You're not going to die from a few nights of insomnia. The world is not going to end.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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Libby Pelham (12871) 19 May 2006 07:20 PM

Thanks for these tips Aimee - I need them!

Aimee Amodio (11995) 21 May 2006 05:51 AM

As it happens, Libby, I wrote these from a hotel room where I was having trouble getting a good night's sleep! ;)