"Z" is for Zzzzzzzzzzz Do You Get Enough Sleep?

Sleep is such an important part of our well being. How seriously do you take getting a good night's rest? I am a night owl, so I tend to stay up later than I should. I always regret it the next day when I am dealing with 24 second graders, plus my own two children.What does it take for us to realize that we need to make sure that we get our sleep? I found some very interesting statistics at www.bettersleep.org.

Each year, the Better Sleep Council (BSC) conducts a stress and sleep survey to find out what keeps Americans up at night.

This year’s findings revealed a range of insights on Americans’ stress and sleep cycles. Here are some of the results:

Who is More Stressed?

• 26% of women report trouble sleeping at least once a week compared to only 16% of men
• 19% of individuals ages 45-64 admit to losing sleep due to stress a few nights per week

This year’s survey also focused on women’s wellness and the results show an interesting

paradigm in how women approach their own health.

• 27% of women say sleep is the most important component to their overall well-being
• 16% of women would try getting a good night’s sleep to improve their overall wellness

• 31% of suburban moms are likely to make sleep a priority
• 50% of women with children agree that sleep is the best way to recharge, nine points higher than women without children

• 45% of women agree they feel most refreshed after a good night’s sleep
• 26% of women are likely to invest in a mattress as an in-home wellness item

The better sleep council gives

some recommendations of how we all can get better sleep. The BSC has developed

Ten Tips to help consumers start every day with a good night’s sleep.

1. Give yourself "permission" to go to bed. As hard as it may be to put away your "to do" list, make sleep a "priority." You'll thank yourself in the morning.

2. Unwind early in the evening. Try to deal with worries and distractions several hours before bedtime.

3. Develop a sleep ritual. Doing the same things each night just before bed signals your body to settle down for the night.

4. Keep regular hours. Keep your biological clock in check by going to bed around the same time each night and waking up close to the same time each morning – even on weekends.

5. Create a restful place to sleep. Sleep in a cool, dark room that is free from noises that may disturb your sleep.

6. Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation. It's difficult to sleep on a bed that's too small, too soft, too hard, or too old.

7. Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help relieve daily tension and stress – but don't exercise too close to bedtime or you may have trouble falling asleep.

8. Cut down on stimulants. Consuming stimulants, such as caffeine, in the evening can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

9. Don't smoke . Smokers take longer to fall asleep and wake up more often during the night.

10.Reduce alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol shortly before bedtime interrupts and fragments sleep.

Maybe what it comes down to, is that we should be more like cats.

"Cats Sleep Anywhere"

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.

Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.

Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.

Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.

Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

Eleanor Farjeon (1881 -1965)