Fall…the perfect season to focus on improving sleep. Why? Darker days and cool temperatures naturally beckon us to a deep state of slumber. Adequate sleep is essential for good health and crucial to those of us managing chronic conditions. For decades I struggled with sleep deprivation. Now I experience the best sleep of my life! Check out the Rest section of my 3 Key Concepts to Improved Health where I share resources and tips that help me to fall asleep and stay asleep. Consult your doctor to see if those resources are a fit for you. I find that sleeping between 5-7 hours per night is best for me. Here are a few restful tips…
Cutting down on caffeine. Caffeine is a tough addiction though I feel better and sleep more soundly when I avoid or limit this powerful stimulant. Reducing caffeine may also help to reduce blood pressure.
Scheduling relaxation time - nightly routines guide me towards better sleep. This routine can be as short as the time it takes to brush your teeth. I enjoy meditation with healing sounds, guided imagery CD’s, sipping a cup of chamomile tea, and listening to music designed for deep sleep.
Eating a small plain baked potato or other fat-free starch (my favorite is a small bowl of steel cut oatmeal with blueberries and oat milk) an hour or so before bedtime. A wholesome starch strong snack is warming, eases anxiety or the blues, and helps me to sleep more soundly.
Sleep Well!
~ Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES
Founder, Anderson Therapeutics & Author of ‘Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery
*Post originally published October 11, 2018
