Are you sleep deprived?Can’t remember your PIN number? Forgot where you put your keys? Sleepy and non-productive after lunch? Missed a flight because you fell asleep at the airport? Can’t remember the movie plot because you dozed off too many times when the lights were off? You are getting older but maybe your foggy head is simply the result of sleep deprivation that can be corrected. Take this survey and see.
Check all that are true for you.
_____ You have nightmares.
_____ You need and alarm clock to awaken you – and you put it across the room
_____ You hit the snooze button 2-3 times.
_____ You awaken tired and drag yourself out of bed most days.
_____ It takes 2-4 cups of coffee or tea to get you going in the morning.
_____ You have a hard time concentrating and remembering things during the day.
_____ You eat sugar for energy.
_____ You are often irritable and cranky.
_____ You have a hard time focusing on tasks, problem-solving and being creative.
_____ You fantasize about sleeping and look forward to a good night’s sleep.
_____ You often fall asleep watching TV.
_____ You often fall asleep after heavy meals or after a little alcohol.
_____ You often fall asleep after dinner but cannot fall asleep later in bed.
_____ You often feel drowsy while driving.
_____ You often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings.
_____ You have dark circles under your eyes.
If you checked two or more of these factors, you are probably carrying a significant sleep debt. Pay up now. You don’t need to “pay it forward”, just add 30-60 minutes a day to your sleep time. Set a goal to be free of this debt by the end of February. Here’s how: Make sleep a priority in your 24/7 schedule and cultivate healthy sleep habits. Drink plenty of water during the day (add at least 16 ounces to your current intake). No caffeine or alcohol after 6 PM. Stop eating sugar at night. Avoid sleep supplements. Turn off the computer, TV or electronic devices 2 hours before bedtime. Schedule your sleep and bedtime and protect it like you do for the other hours of your day. Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and uncluttered. Set an alarm for the time you want to awaken. Tell yourself before you sleep that when it rings you will get up. When the alarm rings, get up and get going. Drinking 8 -12 ounces of water immediately upon arising will help replenish your overnight loss and will give you almost instant energy for the morning. If you awake (15-30 minutes) before the alarm goes off, get up – your night is over and the day is waiting for you.
This entry was posted on January 14th, 2012 at 12:00 am. RSS
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