| How to Get Your Best Night’s Sleep—Ever Go easy on the booze A nightcap, tempting though it may be when you can’t sleep, can actually ruin your slumber—and that’s especially true for women. According to a recent study, men who went to bed tipsy slept soundly—as well as when they were sober—but women slept fewer minutes and woke up more often. What’s more, alcohol robs you of REM and the other, deeper stages of sleep—which are the ones that make you feel most rested. Finally, like coffee, alcohol is a diuretic, says Dr. Weil. It’s hard to sleep when you’re running to the bathroom every couple of hours. Get your sweat on—day or night Sleep experts often say you should avoid working out in the evenings because it can take hours for adrenaline—that exciting hormone that surges during exercise—to return to normal levels. Unfortunately, the proof that nighttime workouts inhibit sleep just isn’t there. There is plenty of research, however, that supports the idea that exercise improves sleep. A recent study found that insomniacs who picked up a regular exercise routine slept better, felt less depressed, and had more energy all day. The bottom line? If working out at night interrupts your sleep, squeeze in a morning run instead. If not, get exercise in whenever you can. Make sleep a priority Now, don’t roll your eyes. If you want a better night’s sleep, you have to get serious about it. Need convincing? A recent study found that when you’re short on zzzs, you’re also more likely to overreact to minor incidents, feel stressed out, and blow your top. Even worse, your physical health takes a hit, too. “Lack of sleep increases the risk for high blood pressure, depression and weight gain, the latter as a result of adverse effects on hormones that regulate appetite,” says Andrew Weil, MD, Prevention advisory board member, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Say no to coffee after noon Your morning mug gets a pass, but guzzling it all day is a big no-no. Here’s why: It’s often said that caffeine has a half-life of about five hours—which means if you eat an early enough dinner, that after-supper cappuccino should be out of your system by bedtime, right? Unfortunately, that’s not quite right. After seven hours, much of the stimulant will be gone from your system, depending on your sensitivity to it—but 25% of it could still be there. “It can also increase nighttime urination and otherwise adversely impact your sleep,” says Dr. Weil. |