Look familiar? You’re probably not getting enough sleep.
Credit: Metro file
Dr. Robert Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, has these tips for making the most out of your shut-eye in 2014:
- Make a commitment to sleep. If you have to wake up at 7 a.m. to get to work, start preparing for bed at 10:30 pm. Darken the room, do not watch TV or work on the computer. Do something calming like taking a hot bath or shower. Get into bed at 11 p.m. and find yourself resting your way to health.
- Take advantage of the cold weather and turn your thermostat down. Your room temperature should be around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If that temperature is too cold for you, use blankets to stay warm. The cool room allows your core body temperature to decline, which is necessary to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Don’t let the early darkness rob you of sleep. If you find yourself falling asleep in the evening before it is time to go to bed, expose yourself to light and get up and move around. If you nap before bed it will make if more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
