It’s time again to have lots of spooky fun, but we don’t want that to lead to sleepless nights. Snuggle into bed and allow this not-so-scary Halloween music to lull you off to sleep. Happy Halloween! For more scary Halloween fun, sample these: Nighty-Night and Spooky Dreams Halloween Sleeping…or Not Too Afraid to Sleep
Have you ever had the feeling you were lying awake in bed, only to realize (or be told) you were sound asleep? Many times, we find out because someone tells us. Recently I was hanging out with my mom watching TV when I realized she had zonked out in her recliner. Eyes closed, mouth open, breathing deep and regular and then…there it was…a little light snoring. Oh yeah, she was asleep. She had a pretty good nap too – in the neighborhood of an hour or so. When she came to, she was unconvinced she had been sleeping at all. …
Paradoxical Insomnia: When Your Brain Thinks You’re Awake All Night Read more »
Yes, it’s back to school time again. After a summer of late bedtimes, sleepovers, vacations, and plenty of sleeping in, it’s time to shift back into earlier mornings. And that means earlier bedtimes. It can be a tough adjustment for your kids – and you – as they struggle to settle down and get to sleep earlier when their bodies still feel wide awake. You probably have a tried-and-true routine you’ve honed with your kids for school nights. Maybe it’s an earlier dinnertime, homework, a little play, a warm bath or shower, bedtime stories, and then lights out. Sounds simple …
From Summer Nights to School Mornings: Helping Kids Get to Sleep Earlier Read more »
Do your worries impair your sleep? It seems like there’s plenty to worry about these days. But is there really that much more to worry about now than people had in times past? Certainly, our standard of living is better than ever. Our homes are spacious and climate controlled. Modern conveniences allow us to spend less time on monotonous and tiring tasks. We live longer than ever and are generally much safer physically than our ancestors. Most of us won’t die of an infected wound or a childhood disease, be threatened by a wild animal, or starve to death in our …
Sometimes life gets kind of crazy. I know you know what I mean. So when I tell you June has completely gotten away from me, I hope you’ll understand why this blog post is short and hopefully sweet. Because what’s sweeter than having a good belly laugh, right? Enjoy! And be careful with your phone! You might also enjoy this one: https://www.sleepsatisfaction.com/sleep-is-funny/
When you think about power naps, do you picture a penguin? I admit I don’t. But maybe we should. Let me make my case. First of all, penguins are adorable. They’re fun to look at and watch. Tell me you haven’t seen at least one movie, animated film, or documentary about them or at least featuring one as a character. Happy Feet? Penguins of Madagascar? Mr. Popper’s Penguins? March of the Penguins? Even 1970’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town featured Topper the penguin. “Honk! Honk!” An interesting fact the films don’t show us about these fascinating little creatures is …
Sometimes it seems like caregiving and sleep just don’t go together. When you’re caring for another person, it can feel like there’s not enough time in any 24-hour period to get it all done, much less get any decent amount of sleep. And once you do lie down and try, your brain may be so filled with lists of things you still need to do, it can be tough to relax and let go. Whether it’s a sick child, a spouse with an illness or injury, or an aging or injured parent, we tend to put their needs before our …
Pain is one of the most difficult things to cope with in life. The fact that pain so often prevents you from sleeping well, or sometimes at all, is a double insult. Researchers have found there is a correlation between lack of adequate sleep and pain tolerance. A 2022 study published in the medical journal Sleep Medicine Reviews states: “Sleep loss leads to increased pain perception in people with and without chronic pain. As sleep is a modifiable factor, improving sleep has potential clinical implications for pain management in individuals with concurrent sleep disturbance and chronic pain.” It …
Sleep researchers are hard at work all the time trying to learn more about sleep. Everything from what sleep actually is, to why we sleep, to how different animals and even insects sleep is being looked at. So what are we learning about sleep? We’ve collected some of the most recent findings in the world of sleep research and science. Research suggests people in industrialized world sleep more than those in more primitive societies We hear a lot about how modern sleepers aren’t getting the quality or the quantity of sleep we need. Much of the blame has been put …
Falling asleep can be tough. When you have a lot on your mind, it’s hard to let go of it all just because you settle into your bed for the night. If that sounds familiar, you might be able to use cognitive games to help you fall asleep. That feeling of your mind spinning around, worrying, thinking about what you need to do, dreading the next day – it’s known by various names. Monkey mind, mental chatter, restless mind, racing thoughts. Whatever you call it, when it keeps you up at night, it’s bad. There are plenty of techniques that …