3 Ways to Nod Off Faster
You tried to hit the hay earlier, but hours later you're still wide awake-and frustrated.
"Everything from body temperature to stress can keep you tossing and turning," says Carol Ash, D.O., medical director of the Sleep for Life Clinic at Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey. Fortunately, three new studies suggest how you can start snoozing more quickly, no sheep counting or sleep meds necessary.
- WARM UP YOUR FEET
What's keeping you up this summer may be an overly air-conditioned room. Slip on some socks: A recent study in Physiology & Behavior found that wearing them to bed better regulates body temperature, enabling you to snag some shut-eye. - EAT A STARCHY DESSERT
Carbs can trigger sleep by boosting levels of brain chemicals serotonin and tryptophan, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A half cup of dry cereal or a few lowfat cookies four hours before bed should work without adding too many calories. - READ YOURSELF A BEDTIME STORY
An engaging book or magazine article can help you ease into those z's. Australian researchers found that stressed or anxious people rested easier when they were distracted from their worries.
