Tired of Being Tired? Here Are 6 Fixes for Bad Sleep Habits by Joyce Knestrick, CRNP, FAANP

There’s nothing worse than telling someone who’s sleep-deprived that they need to get more shut-eye. One in three adults don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night, and for many, it’s not from lack of trying. If you’re battling sleep, here are six tricks to try before calling the experts:

• Give yourself a bedtime. Sticking to a regular sleep and wake schedule is the single biggest thing you can do to sleep better.

• Skip the nighttime workout. Daily exercise is great for sleep, but not too close to bedtime.

• Close the kitchen. Allow your body two to three hours to digest before lights out.

• Power down. Blue light zaps melatonin, the sleep hormone that helps you feel drowsy, so unplug at least an hour before bed.

• Unwind. Read or meditate to slow your engine before lights out.

• Decaffeinate. Nearly half of us use caffeine to combat daytime drowsiness, but give yourself at least six hours to get it out of your system before bedtime.

Sleep deprivation is a public health epidemic, and I see people every day who are tired of being tired. If you aren’t getting enough shut-eye, try these tactics. If you’re still coming up short, talk to your nurse practitioner or doctor.

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

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