From the article: Sleep Better
Sleep experts offer many basic tips as to how to sleep better. What do you do when you want to make sure that you get a good night's sleep? Do you practice good sleep hygeine? Is there an old family secret that you use when you need to make sure you sleep well? Share your "sleep like a baby tip" and find out what works for others.
Share Your Tips!
Reading!
- I like to read, even if it's just five minutes, before bed. It's how I turn off my brain. There are, of course, other ways to turn off the brain as well, but this helps me just prepare my mind for the sleep to come...
- —Guest Robin
Exercise
- I agree with Robin, that reading really helps when I can't get to sleep, but the best thing I've found is to get regular exercise. If I exercise in the evening, it's hard to fall asleep, but if I do it in the morning or early part of the day, I get a good night's rest.
- —Guest Sandy
Get Good Sleep
- I have a hospital bed, severe back problems and botched leg surgery...so I raise the head part about 3-4 inches and raise the leg part about 3-4 inches and try meditating, and cover my eyes with a sleep mask...really helps, and also have the temperature set on a cooler level.
- —cjc272421
Relaxation CD's
- I have several relaxation CD's I put on and that really helps me go to sleep and sometimes if I am really having a hard time getting to sleep then I use slow deep breathing with the CD"s playing too. Reading a very boring book or textbook on a subject you didn't really like helps also - history always puts me to sleep!
- —flipfleury
Sunglasses
- My significant other and I go to sleep at different times so he has things on like his desk lamp, computer monitor, sometimes the TV. So, I put on some sunglasses about an hour before bed and find it helps me tune out some of the light he uses. I find if I don't do this, my body doesn't seem to recognize that it's time for bed and I'll stay up much later than I want.
- —Guest Stephanie Brown
Soothing A Bad Back
- I now have to sleep on my back due to arthritis in my shoulders. I have a bad back, and my back really hurt when I first tried to sleep on my back. I had lots of restless nights. However, I bought one sloping medical pillow for my upper body and another medical pillow 8" tall, sloping on one end and long enough to elevate my legs from my knees to my toes. Now, my back doesn't hurt and I can get a good night's sleep.
- —childrensbooksADM
Middle of the Night
- I have no trouble falling to sleep when I get into bed, but I do wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep because I start thinking about all the stuff that needs to get done the next day. I've tried writing down those tasks, but that's only step one in what works. After I've written them down, I try reading a boring book until I fall asleep -- something to switch off my brain from my to-do list.
- —TrishaTorrey
Go for Dark
- I have learned that even the tiniest bit of light interferes with my sleep. I leave a small light on outside my bedroom door, but I shut the door tight when I go to bed. If I have to get up for some reason, it's only a step or two to open the door. Having a touch lamp beside the bed would be another good solution. But try total darkness when you sleep. It really makes a difference.
- —SusanAdcox
