Aging brings with it a whole host of changes to your body
and mind. You might even find yourself changing the way you do things in order
to compensate for some of these shifts.
What many people don’t realize, however, is that you might need to do
the same for your sleep habits. Sleeping can become more difficult as you age, but that doesn’t mean that you
can’t get a full night’s rest. There are a few different things you can do to
get the best sleep possible in your senior years.
Listen to
Your Body
As you age, you might notice that you begin to feel tired
earlier in the evenings. Instead of comfortably staying up until 10PM, for
example, you could find yourself nodding off around 8PM. Many people will fight
these feelings and attempt to power through the evening on their own terms, but
why fight your body? It’s telling you it is tired for a reason. Consider
listening to it and adjusting your bedtime accordingly rather than attempting to
deny the shift in your circadian
rhythm.
Get Help for
Insomnia
Insomnia is a particularly common
issue
to face as you age. The problem is that many people attempt to ignore the
problem and move on with their lives rather than seek help. Because sleep is so
vital to our physical and mental health, this course of action can be quite
harmful. Instead of ignoring the issue, consider reaching out to a
professional. This isn’t a “small issue” – it’s one that can impact your health
significantly. If you find yourself unable to sleep, professional help could be
the answer. Your doctor might be able to help you overcome the issue and return
to peaceful nights full of rest.
Create an
Environment Conducive to Sleep
Aging can be difficult on your body. You likely find that
you have more aches and pains in the morning than you did when
you were younger, but the pain at night might surprise you. There are many
different health issues that can contribute to persistent pain, including
things like osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or simply strain
on the important joints in your body. A mattress that is designed to help
support you as you sleep could help by reducing stress on your body while you
rest. You might also consider creating a quiet, cool bedroom that is dedicated
to relaxation. Keep the TV and tablets out of the room and use the space for
its intended purpose – sleeping.
Keep Exercising
Staying
active might be the last thing you want to do if you’re not sleeping well. It’s
important to note, however, that exercise can actually help regulate your sleep
patterns and enable you to fall and
stay asleep.
You don’t have to engage in any particularly in-depth or strenuous workouts,
either. Simply taking a walk a few times a week can be enough to help improve
your sleep.
Sleeping
as you age can be difficult, but it is not impossible.
Keep
the information above in mind and work towards your sleep goals one tip at a
time.
Contributed by: Lisa Smalls