Getting a Good Nights Sleep, 10 Tips

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10 Tips for Getting Good Sleep BY Gretchen Rubin

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by Intent.com, on Wed May 20, 2009 11:29am PDT
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There’s a lot of advice out there about getting good sleep -- and it's very important. We quickly adjust to being sleep-deprived, and don't notice that we aren't functioning at a normal level, but lack of sleep really affects us. If you're feeling blue or listless, try going to sleep thirty minutes earlier for a week. It can really help.
Here are tips that have helped me get good sleep:
Good habits for good sleep:
1. Exercise most days, even if it’s just to take a walk.
2. No caffeine after 6:00 p.m.
3. An hour before bedtime, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking. Addressing envelopes—okay. Analyzing an article—nope.
4. Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.
5. Keep your bedroom dark. Studies show that even the tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle. We have about six devices in our room that glow bright green; it’s like sleeping in a mad scientist’s lab. I have to put a pillow over the cable box.
6. Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.
If sleep won’t come:7. Breathe deeply and slowly until you can’t stand it anymore.
8. If your mind is racing (you’re planning a trip, a move; you’re worried about a medical diagnosis), write down what’s on your mind. This technique really works for me.
9. Slather yourself with body lotion. This feels good and also, if you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re hot, it cools you down.
10. If your feet are cold, put on socks.Continue Reading Sixteen Tips for Getting Good Sleep on Intent.com By Gretchen Rubin on Intent.comGretchen Rubin’s book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is an account of the year she spent testing the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from poplar culture about how to be happier. On her popular blog, The Happiness Project, she writes about her daily adventures in happiness.Read More by Gretchen Rubin
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