Are you groggy and foggy in the mornings? Like most Americans you’re
probably not getting enough sleep. The good news is there are solutions
to helping you sneak in more sleep.
There’s an epidemic and you’re part of it. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Americans are in the middle of a sleep loss epidemic. Nearly
eight in 10 Americans say they would feel better and more prepared for
the day if they had just one more hour of sleep. Getting that bit of extra
sleep may seem impossible to you as you stumble out of bed every morning,
but in fact there are secrets to getting more sleep that can add time
to your 40 winks.
Make your dreams come true
You can make 8 hours of quality sleep a regular part of your life by scheduling
it. Make sleep part of your to-do list and plan your bedtime like you
would any other appointment. You wouldn’t miss a meeting to binge
watch TV, would you? Be strict about your sleep appointment in the same
way. Keep a consistent schedule for sleep and wake times and soon they
will become just a part of your regular routine. Support your schedule
by creating a bedtime routine that relaxes you with hot baths, good books
or soothing music.
Rise and shine
It’s tempting to hit the snooze button over and over to squeak out
just a little more sleep, but this hurts you more than it helps you. Break
this bad habit and set your alarm for the time you actually need to get
up. If you can’t let go of the snooze button habit, limit yourself
to just one snooze hit per morning.
Pull the plug
Keeping a television, smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer in your bedroom
makes it harder for you to sleep soundly. The lighting from electronics
actually stimulates your brain while you’re trying to sleep and
wakes you up. Keep your electronics in another room and use a simple alarm
clock instead of your phone.
These and other great tips are available from the
Better Sleep Council.
The
Sleep Center at
Campbell County Memorial Hospital can diagnose and treat more than 70 different sleep disorders, and is
accredited by the
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It’s one of only three accredited sleep centers in the state of
Wyoming. The most commonly treated sleep disorders are snoring, sleep
apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and shift work disorder. Learn more at
www.cchwyo.org/sleep.