5 Ways to Improve Sleep

Are you someone who is always just on the cusp of getting just the right amount of sleep? An extra thirty minutes or so is all you wish for? Do you feel that if you had that extra thirty minutes of sleep each day would be better: you would discover that you were tired less often and the definition dragging would no longer apply to you?

Here are a few ways to help you in this endeavor to reach that magical number of the perfect amount of sleep we all need.

Save some chores for last

Chores that are repetitive in nature such as folding laundry or ironing are best done right before bed time. Save the heavy cleaning such as attacking the kitchen or bathroom with sweeping and mopping for the early morning or early evening. Pay bills in the morning or on your lunch break. Dusting can wait until the weekend.

Note taking

Are you one to have your mind wonder the minute you close your eyes? Worries about tomorrow invading your slumber time? Keep a notebook next to your bed. Each night jot down all the tasks you have lined up for the next day and any worries you might have. Leave them be in that notebook and shut it. Night time is for sleep. Sleep is best when it is worry free.

Black out

Is your alarm clock digital with a glaring red or green light? Turn the alarm clock away from you. Let it face the wall or the door. All it will take is a quick turn to see the time when you wake up in the morning. Sometimes the glare alone is reason for us to begin to worry all over again. Really what does that accomplish other than nothing?

Set boundaries

Are you a book reader? I am and sometimes putting a book down in order to go to sleep is simply not an option until I finish the book. But for the most part I keep to a structured reading scheduled- thirty minutes of reading and then lights out. If I want to read more, then I need to turn in even earlier.

Late night snacks

Do not eat anything to sugary or rich right before you are going to go to sleep. If you find yourself having the munchies, eat a carrot or a slice of cheese.

Lack of sleep has been known to not only cause us to "drag" throughout the day, thereby possibly effecting our decisions and responses, but, according to a recent National Sleep Foundation Poll, it can be linked to heart disease, and obesity.

You owe it to yourself to get that extra thirty minutes to an hour of sleep. You deserve it.