I’ve always been a big advocate of getting enough sleep, period. However, if you’re trying to lose weight or to get into shape, getting enough rest is crucial. Of course, what is enough to you might not be enough to other people. So you may have to experiment to figure out what works for you.
However, that’s easier said than done when you’re having trouble getting to sleep. In cases like that, you might try many remedies. Maybe you’ve tried OTC medications, but don’t like how they leave you groggy when you wake up and ravenous before you go to sleep. Maybe you’ve even tried prescription pills or want to, but are nervous about some of the reported side effects. If you’ve been having no luck with pills, you might have started thinking about other remedies and wondering if there is any truth to them. Here’s the real truth you need to know.
First of all, stop with the warm milk. In studies, it doesn’t seem to have any effect on sleeping. Furthermore, the last thing you want to do when you’re trying to go to sleep is load up on liquids. Have you ever been so warm and cozy in bed and then realized you had to go to the bathroom? It’s the worst. So don’t dehydrate yourself, but don’t drink until your eyeballs are floating, either.
Next, your bed is for bed activities. It’s not a desk and it’s not a dinner table. Don’t get used to using your bed for hanging out. And don’t hang out there late on the weekends. Try to keep the same schedule all week long, so your body stays in rhythm.
Finally, don’t lay there forever if it’s not working. That just makes you more anxious about not sleeping. Get back up and do something relaxing, like reading. Many experts advise you to stay away from screens like computers, phones, and TV, but if the TV relaxes you, do what works for you. Resist the temptation to do work, though. The emails can wait for tomorrow. Your sleep can’t.
