Working on improving your pre-sleep habits is called sleep hygiene. Here are some suggestions for good sleep hygiene for you:

*Taking caffeine or chocolate even much earlier in the day. Perhpas your body chemistry is changing as you age, and you can no longer tolerate these as you did before. Try going without for a few days.

*Exercising in the evening. Exercise for your recommended 30 minutes can get your heart rate up and can keep you awake. Try exercising before 6 p.m.

*Sugar late in the day. Are you drinking or eating sweets late in the day? Sugar can be a stimulant, and as such can rev you up so you can’t sleep. Beware of natural sugar, too, such as the sugar in orange juice.

*Stimulating conversations. Are you getting all worked up about something after supper? You can save stimulating conversations for the next day. These can keep you awake because they fill your system with stimulating hormones.

*Creative thinking. Projects worked on in the evening can get your mind going… and going… and going.

So much for what to avoid. So, what can you DO to improve your sleep hygiene?

*After supper, do calm things on purpose, in a calm manner.

*If you read near bedtime, read news magazines or other items that have no exciting story line.

*If you watch TV or a video, watch documentaries rather than thrillers near bedtime.

Give these practices a try to see whether good sleep hygiene will make a difference for you!

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