Elusive Sleep

Sleep can be refreshing and rejuvenating. But some people struggle with elusive sleep. Our heads hit the pillow after a long day and we just want to relax. We collapse, find that comfortable spot, and drift to dreamland. That’s the ideal situation, but for many, especially those who are older, sleep becomes more elusive with age. Scientists and the medical community are educating us all on the importance of sleep for our bodies and brains. 

This generation is trending toward less sleep than many before it. Technology advances, never ending options for entertainment and commerce, fear of missing out, aging bodily changes all explain why we are sleeping less. Sleep plays a pivotal role in our body and mind wellness, yet all the processes aren’t fully known.

One things researchers do know about sleep is that is provides a virtual rewind and organizational component to brain and memory wellness. When we get enough sleep, these brain functions occur naturally and assist memory. When we don’t, things get backed up and just like a messy desk or an overgrown garden, it takes longer to be more efficient in our efforts the next day.

Tips for Elusive Sleep

We know sleep helps us to function well in mind and body, yet our actions don’t always fit our wishes. Here are a few tips that can help us to grab even just a few more moments of precious sleep:

1. Keep a regular bedtime and wake schedule. Your body will then automatically sense when it’s time to sleep and awaken more naturally.
2. Keep your bedroom about sleep. Don’t exercise, eat, watch TV, scroll the internet, or be on any other electronic device before trying to get some sleep. Eliminating these things sets the tone to wind down and relax.
3. Let go of what threatens the drift-off factor. Whether it’s thoughts, worries, moving around, or loud noises adjacent to your bedroom, let them go. Write down or pray about worries or things to do, find a comfy spot and try to stay there. Control the noise in and adjacent to your bedroom. These will assist you to drift into dreamland  easily.
4. Control your evening actions. Don’t exercise or eat a big meal. Don’t consume alcohol or caffeine right before bedtime. All of these can interfere with a more natural wind down time in the evenings.
5. Work on what you can and when all else fails, talk to your doctor. There are many things we can control but if you’ve tried them all, see if your doctor has another solution. Maybe it’s adjusting your medications or trying another sleep producing alternative, but seek professional help if necessary.

Quality sleep is paramount in our efforts toward wellness in our body and mind. If we truly want to savor these last moments in our #SummerToRemember, we need to get enough sleep. See if these help with your sleep and overall memory and let’s remember our summer moments well!