Performance Quest Fitness & Athletics: Your Sleep Habits Can Kill You (Part V): Creating A Healthy Sleep Routine

FRIDAY, JUNE 24TH, 2011

Baseball Class 9:00am

Open Class 6:00pm

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If you're a parent, you probably automatically adopted such a routine for your kids -- perhaps winding down with quiet activities for an hour or two before bedtime, then getting into pajamas and reading a book.

Why are bedtime routines so important for kids?

Because they work -- and they can work for you too. So if you're staying up late watching TV, surfing the Web or working, it's time to set some limits. Determine a set bedtime for yourself, just as you do for your children, and avoid watching TV or using electronics for about an hour prior to going to bed. It is too stimulating to your brain, making it more difficult to "shut down" and fall asleep.

Instead, try spending this wind-down time doing something that soothes and relaxes your mind. You may want to spend time journaling, meditating, sipping herbal tea, washing your face, or reading a calming or spiritual book.

I also recommend getting to bed as early as possible. Your bodily systems, particularly your adrenals, do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., so you should definitely try to be asleep during those hours. From there, make sure your bedroom is ideally suited for sleep, as this can also go a long way to ensure restful and uninterrupted sleep:

Cover your windows with blackout shades or drapes to ensure complete darkness. Even the tiniest bit of light in the room can disrupt your internal clock and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and serotonin. Even the faint glow from your clock radio could be interfering with your sleep. Also close your bedroom door, get rid of night-lights, and refrain from turning on any light during the night, even when getting up to go to the bathroom. If you have to use a light, install "low blue" light bulbs in your bedroom and bathroom. These emit an amber light that will not suppress melatonin production.

Keep the temperature in your bedroom at or below 70 degrees F (21 degrees Celcius). Many people keep their homes and particularly their upstairs bedrooms too warm. Studies show that the optimal room temperature for sleep is quite cool, between 60 to 68 degrees F (15.5 to 20 C). Keeping your room cooler or hotter can lead to restless sleep.When you sleep, your body's internal temperature drops to its lowest level, generally about four hours after you fall asleep. Scientists believe a cooler bedroom may therefore be most conducive to sleep, since it mimics your body's natural temperature drop.

You can find my (Dr. Mercola's) comprehensive recommendations and guidelines to help improve your sleep in my article 33 Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep. If you're having trouble sleeping, this is the place to look to get your sleep back on track.