Sleep Better—Feel Better
Simple lifestyle changes can improve your sleep.
· Start with avoiding caffeine after breakfast. Caffeine can be found in coffee, many soda beverages, tea, and chocolate.
· Get 30 minutes of activity some time in your day before dinner.
· Eat a light dinner. A large heavy meal can cause heartburn and interfere with your sleep.
· Turn off your TV, computer, cell phone, and tablet device at least 30 minutes before bed. They stimulate the brain.
· Read a book (not on an electronic device), take a warm bath, or listen to soft music to help your body and mind unwind before bed.
· Try to keep the same time schedule for going to bed and waking.
If these steps don’t help, it’s worth a call to your doctor to see if a medical condition such as thyroid problems, anemia, sleep apnea, menopausal hot flashes, heartburn, incontinence, or depression is affecting the quality or the quantity of your sleep. Treating the health problem may take care of the sleep problem.
