Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, almost every night? Do you find it difficult to fall back asleep? Is this affecting you during the day?
As frustrating as it may be, there are some simple changes you can make to your sleep habits to get a better night’s rest. And best yet, it doesn’t have anything to do with taking medication. Here are some ideas to experiment with:
• Set a sleep schedule: Do your best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. It doesn’t have to be exact, but a basic schedule can do wonders.
• Turn off the electronics: Stay away from your computer, television, and phone as your night winds down. The light can stimulate your brain, making it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Cut out caffeine: Did you know that caffeine can take up to eight hours to wear off? So, even if you’re lucky enough to fall asleep, it has the potential to wake you up before the morning arrives.
These are just a few of the basic changes you can make to your sleep habits. As you experiment with each one, you’ll come to find what does and doesn’t work for you.
Jennifer Ferdinand, owner of Serendipity Wellness Studio in Burke, VA, has been practicing massage therapy and esthetics since 2006. She is nationally certified through NCBTMB, and licensed in Virginia for both Massage Therapy and Esthetics.