Randi Martin, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Who knew that aging would be bad for your health?
According to a 2011 survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 50 percent of all Americans suffer from some form of insomnia. The means the chances of you getting a good solid 7 to 8 hours of peaceful slumber is almost impossible.
The older we get, the more sleep problems we have. But there is a solution — changing your thinking.
The key problem, it seems, is that we approach sleep as a night time problem when in fact it is a day time one.
Sleep experts offer some day time solutions.
That morning cup of Joe works as a pick me up but after lunch, decaf is the way to go.
The effects of caffeine can linger in your body for up to eight hours — not great if you need to sleep.
Don’t want to even go near caffeine but need that 3 p.m. energy boost? Try going to the gym — sleep quality improves with exercise.
In the morning do you review your to do list?
Well, you may be a bit too ambitious and become overwhelmed with the things you need to do, get or complete. Scale it down, things left undone will keep your mind racing at night and that doesn’t promote peaceful slumber.
Rethink the family dinner — eating spicy food can cause acid reflux and eating heavy can cause digestive issues.
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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
