I’ve heard of work to eat, but work to sleep? I got a link about sleep help from Dr. Oz, and he says we don’t just fall asleep; we have to work at getting our Zs. A few of the suggestions: keep the room a comfortable temperature (65 degrees is ideal), dim the lights and stop watching t.v./looking at the computer screen an hour before bedtime, get rid of distractions (noise, light) that might keep you awake after you are in bed, and go to bed at a consistent hour every night.
So, I took stock of my sleeping routine/environment. The consistent hour thing will be the hardest. The dim lights explanation is very intriguing. There is a little area in the brain that keeps the brain alert when it senses light from the eyes. Darkness signals that part of the brain to get ready for sleepy time. The only distraction in the room might be my lighted clock. My husband might be a distraction, but there’s no way I’m getting rid of him! We are leaving the best time of year for sleeping temperatures and entering sultry temps; my husband had a fit last night when I turned on the AC (in March, in Indiana) to cool down the bedroom. He didn’t put up much of a fight, though. It was a record high of 83 degrees Wednesday, after all.
I tried working at sleeping the last two nights. Both nights I got up at 2:30 and 4:30 a.m. I’m not sure what is up with that; maybe my body thinks it is taking a coffee break in reverse. If sleep is work, then maybe waking for a short period is like taking a break from work? No more breaks; the boss has spoken!
Only time will tell if my work to sleep program is effective, but it is worth a shot. What do I have to lose? I’m already losing too much sleep.
Better to Laugh 
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