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Light Sleeping Tips

Six or seven hours of sleep might provide one person with enough sleep to perform her daily tasks and remain alert, but another person might need eight or nine hours. Lack of sleep can increase the chances of accidents in your home or vehicles and might affect your health. Not everyone is fortunate enough to fall asleep and stay asleep all night long. Factors that can affect your sleep patterns include children or animals in the house, stress, anxiety and poor sleeping habits.

  1. Don't Exercise or Eat a Big Meal Right Before Bed

    • Regular exercise every day can help you to sleep better at night, but arrange your workouts earlier in the day, not right before bedtime. Likewise, don't eat a big meal for at least three hours before you go to bed. If you are hungry at bedtime, don't eat anything spicy or containing stimulants such as chocolate, and don't drink a lot of fluid before going to bed or you probably will wake up to use the bathroom.

    Avoid Alcohol or Caffeine Before Bed

    • Enjoy your coffee in the morning, but stop drinking it eight hours before you plan to sleep as it takes a long time to eliminate the effects of caffeine from your body. Also, limit your intake of caffeinated soda or tea later in the day. Although alcohol can cause you to fall asleep quickly, it can often also disrupt your sleep, so skip the nightcap.

    Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule

    • Try to go to bed around the same time every night and wake at the same time every morning. Though not always possible, keep your schedule even on the weekends. Having a bedtime routine that includes things like turning the TV off and having a hot bath or shower an hour or so before bed also might help.

    Sleep in a Dark, Cool Bedroom

    • Ensure that your bedroom is very dark when you go to sleep. You might need to use blinds or blackout curtains. Lower the temperature in your bedroom to keep from overheating while asleep, and don't use your bedroom for computer work or watching TV. If slight noises keep you from sleeping well, buy and use a white-noise machine or fan.

    Make Sure Your Bed is Comfortable

    • A comfortable mattress and pillows are necessary for quality sleep. Make sure your blankets don't bind your legs. If your mattress is too hard and you can't afford a new one, a two- or three-inch memory foam topper can help.

    Don't Nap Too Much During the Day

    • Even though being a light sleeper might place you in a situation where you find yourself sleepy during daytime hours, try not to have more than one short nap each day. Unless you have unusual working hours, try to nap during the afternoon and keep the duration around a half-hour.

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