28 December 2015

Making New Year's Resolutions? Put sleep at the top of your list

"Almofadas" by Castelaa - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Here are 10 simple ways to add "better sleep" to your goals for 2016:

  1. Put your smartphones and other handheld electronic devices away 1 HOUR BEFORE BED.
  2. Eat smaller, leaner portions at dinnertime at least two (ideally three) hours before bed.
  3. Spray lavender mist on your pillow at bedtime.
  4. Learn yogic breathing and practice it if you are struggling to sleep.
  5. Wear an eye mask if streetlights outside are keeping you awake.
  6. Invest in a new pillow. It doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to support your neck and spine.
  7. Drink an ice-cold glass of water at bedtime to help encourage a lower core temperature for sleep.
  8. Give yourself permission to nap... and then take a nap if you need one.
  9. Use a saline nasal spray at bedtime to keep your nasal and sinus passages clear.
  10. Stop all consumption of caffeine products by no later than 3pm.