Get Better Sleep Sans the High Costs

If you think that dragging yourself out of bed before you’ve had at least eight hours of sleep can score you more time to get things done, you have another think coming. Depriving yourself of sleep can cause you to age faster, get sick easier, and lose work quicker. Here’s how: Your body uses your sleeping time to repair and rejuvenate itself at the cellular level. Sleep helps your body repair tiny problems before they even start so you do not have to deal with their full-blown counterparts later. But since you are depriving yourself of sleep, you forfeit cellular repair and overnight rejuvenation. As such, your body falls into chronic disrepair that can make you susceptible to contacting viruses and infections easier. If you get sick, you have to miss work for treatment and recovery. Before you can get up and about, someone else can land your dream project. It’s not a very pretty situation considering that all you should have done to prevent it is to get enough shut-eye in the first place.

The costs of your bills and medical expenses notwithstanding, here are foolproof ways to get better sleep without breaking the bank:

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   Separate work times from your sleep times.

As much as you love your work, you should not bring it home since your boss does not pay you to work from home. Try to come up with a strategy that lets you finish your job at the office on time. Then, you can go home, start distressing in the car, and psych yourself for a good night time sleep.

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   Keep your bedroom a place for resting.

Put your desk and computer in the den. The same goes for your video games, speakers, and television. Keeping your bedroom solely as a place for sleeping can signal your body to feel restful just by association. Put up drapes and dim lighting to take advantage of the human body’s natural response to darkness which is to hibernate or sleep.

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   Invest in quality sheets.

You may have some of these stashed in your closet saved up for special guests. Well, no one is more special than you. Dig these out and use them. Make sure that they have at least a 250 thread count so they feel soft and comfortable. The more comfortable your bed is, the better your sleep will be.

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   Eat a light meal before bedtime.

A good dinner for improved sleep is some salad, a turkey sandwich, and milk. The tryptophan in the turkey and milk can induce sleepiness and calmness which are necessary for sleep. A green salad will fill you up without weighing you down so you can go to sleep better and faster. A heavier meal might make you feel sleepy, but it is more likely to wake you up at midnight after the stupor caused by satiety has abated.

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   Indulge yourself in free sleep aids.

Contrary to popular belief, sleeping aids do not have to cost a lot. In fact, there are free sleeping aids just lying around your house waiting to be used. Aromatic scented candles, especially those of lavender and chamomile, are excellent in inducing relaxation. Warm baths are also good solutions for sleepless nights. Do these before bedtime to ensure a restful sleep.

If these tricks and free sleep aids do not work or if you are suffering from a sleep disorder, it may be better to use a prescription sleeping aid like Rozerem. Consult your doctor for in-depth medical attention.