Are You Sleeping Well Enough?

Imagine this. Its 12MN and you know you need to sleep. Your body is telling you to, yet you are lying on your bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, running over the day’s events and thinking of the “to-do” list in the morning.

According to Dr. Ana Krieger, Director of New York University Sleep Disorder Centre; sleep has a huge influence on our personality and well-being, which if not met, the body’s normal way to cope is over-working, being rude or hyperactive, being more depressed and less social. This was echoed by Dr. Mark Mahowald, Director of Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorder Centre; he said that “with regard to personality, one of the first consequence of sleep deprivation is impaired sustained attention and irritability.” He further added that just about any degree of sleep deprivation will result in irritability and has far-reaching ramifications in the workplace, family, classroom, and behind the wheel.

Are you sleep-deprived? Well, if you answer “yes” to any of the following questions then you probably are:

1. I need an alarm clock to wake up
2. Even if I spend 8 hours in bed, I still feel tired.
3. If I’m in a dark room (i.e. a movie theater), I have difficulty staying awake.
4. I have an overwhelming urge to fall asleep during the day and I often take naps.

Tips on How to Have a Good Night Sleep

1. Adjust the room temperature. This varies from person-to-person but generally a temperature of above 75 degree F and below 54 degrees F will awaken a person.

2. Have a comfortable bed – not too soft neither too hard. If your mattress is more than 10 years, its time to change!

3. Avoid drinking stimulants like coffee, tea or soda before sleeping.

4. Mind-stimulating activities before bed time will cause the mind to be active and may cause insomnia.

5. Watching an excitable TV show before bedtime releases adrenalin and can keep you awake in bed.

6. Avoid heavy meals at night.

7. Do not engage in heavy exercise just before bedtime.

8. If possible, have good belly laughter before retiring; your body will release endorphin which causes relaxation.

9. Don’t force yourself to sleep. It will make you feel frustrated.

10. Talk to God before sleeping. Ask Him to take care of your problems.

Goodnight, sweet dreams and God bless!