Insomnia does increase with age, so the older we get the harder it is to get a solid night’s sleep, and this is because sleep patterns and age are inversely correlated. So, here’s the plan to sleep like a baby…
Reserve your bedroom just for sleeping
When you reserve your bedroom strictly for sleeping, it limits the amount of time you’re looking at blue light from electronics and trains your mind to get ready for bed as soon as you enter the room.
As we get older we more become more sensitive to the stimuli of blue light – so ditch the screens and read a book under low-watt lamp instead.
Your schedule is sensitive to change
When we get older, our circadian rhythm can become more sensitive to change. Make sure you’re going to bed at the same time every day — even on the weekends.
Pick a time that works for you, say 9PM, and then keep that same bedtime every day for two weeks. Your body will be so trained you’ll be able to fall asleep and wake up without an alarm clock, regardless of age.
Avoid mid-day recharging
We’ve all experienced it… our parents or grandparents nodding off while watching TV, in the middle of a movie.
Training yourself to avoid napping is a huge factor in dealing with sleep and age. Exercise or keep yourself active, it will help tire your body so that sleep comes naturally when you reach your 9PM bedtime.
Good o’le cup of joe
Caffeine sensitivity is also linked to age – so that 4PM cup of coffee when you were 20 was a pick-me-up, but at 40 it can be what keeps you awake at night.
Some older people have such an extreme sensitivity to caffeine that they need twelve hours without it before they can sleep. Keep your morning cup of joe as you age, but maybe switch to decaf when the clock gets past eleven AM.
Got any of that Individual Support?
The older we get, the more aches and pains we have – it’s just the way of life. Minimize those struggles by making sure that you’re sleeping on a mattress that provides the perfect amount of comfort and support, but especially “individual support” that aligns to the natural curves of your body for pain relieving sleep.