Do you jump out of bed every day, rarin' to go, shouting 'Hello world! I'm ready for ya!'
No? Well, you probably have sleep problems; in fact, 75% of Americans do, according to the National Sleep Foundation in Washington D.C.
And a lack of sleep increases your stress hormones, alters thyroid function, insulin sensitivity, and your immune system. Everything's out of whack. Luckily, there's something you can do about it all day long. You can basically reset your internal sleep clock with this advice.
And a lack of sleep increases your stress hormones, alters thyroid function, insulin sensitivity, and your immune system. Everything's out of whack. Luckily, there's something you can do about it all day long. You can basically reset your internal sleep clock with this advice.
- When you wake up, do not hit the snooze button. The sleep you get during that extra 10 minutes is worthless and makes you even more tired. So get an alarm clock without a snooze button. Set it for the latest possible minute you can and get up at that time every day. That'll help your body re-program its internal clock.
- Next, work out in the mornings. People who exercise at night have a harder time falling asleep because their bodies are warmer. Also, people who exercise, fall asleep 12 minutes faster on average and sleep 42 minutes longer.
- Then, don't go for the mega-mug of coffee in the morning. Order an espresso instead. The espresso has 40 milligrams of caffeine. The mega-mug, or grande, has 170 milligrams.
- When you get to work, do your web surfing first thing. Working on the computer late at night can disturb your natural sleep rhythm because of the light coming off your computer.
- At night, eat small, high carbohydrate snacks, like fruit or crackers. Your body will digest them faster than fatty foods.
- And I know you love to snuggle with Fido or Fluffy, but kick them out of bed. The Mayo Sleep Disorders Clinic reports that 50% of pet owners say their furry friend keeps them up at night.
