Health Blog

A healthy body and a sound mind

Fall Asleep Faster

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nosleepHow long does it take you to fall asleep? I know some people who start snoring the moment they lie down. Me, I usually spend at least 20 minutes staring at the ceiling (or the pillow). There are even times when I would waste an hour or more just trying to fall asleep. This year, I am determined to fix my sleeping habits – and that starts with falling asleep faster. Here are some things that I have been trying out, and they seem to be working.

Get thick and dark curtains for the bedroom. My curtains are light and airy. They’re perfect for the morning, but at night, the moonlight or the city lights shine through. That never really bothered me, but I thought I’d try sleeping in a dark room. It helps!

Turn the air conditioning on. This is NOT going to work for those who are in winter right now. But for those in tropical countries, why don’t you try cooling the room down before you sleep? Again, I normally am not bothered by the heat that much, but I noticed that when the room is cool (temperature depends on your preference), I don’t spend hours just forcing sleep to come.

Do NOT think about your day (and issues) while in bed. I think that this is my main problem. When I lie down, I like to mull things over. This habit makes it hard for my mind to relax and shut down. Now I am trying to do the thinking while I relax in the living room. When it’s time to sleep, I think of my “happy places” – a favorite beach, this nice little mountain resort, and so on.

Try these?

Smoking and Sleeping

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smoking in bed
While we’re on the subject of sleep, let’s take a moment to look at things that may affect our sleeping patterns. For sure, one’s work schedule has something to do with it – tell me about it! I told you how 10 hours of sleep is what find optimal in the last post. Well, lately, some changes in my partner’s work schedule have thrown me off track. I have been getting 10 hours of sleep but it seems that I still am not getting enough – I just keep falling asleep throughout the day!

Anyhow, did you know that smoking an affect our sleeping patterns too? According to a study conducted at the Johns Hopkins University, it does!

Here’s another good reason to put away those cigarettes – a new study shows that smoking can lead to unhealthy sleep patterns, making you feel groggier the next day. Scientists have long speculated that smokers have poorer sleep quality than nonsmokers because of conditions associated with the habit, such as sleep apnea and lung disease. Now, research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine led by Dr. Naresh M. Punjabi, shows that smoking might be the culprit for decreased sleep quality.

Aha! I know I have been smoking a lot lately as well. I know I shouldn’t but it is hard not to. I have a whole range of excuses for that. So maybe that is why I still feel groggy in the morning. Maybe that is why I cannot seem to be full of energy despite a long night’s sleep. What about you? Do you smoke? Do you experience this as well?