You can sleep better!

Sleep is essential. Without the adequate quantity and quality of sleep, life can
be pretty tough. Poor sleep can adversely affect your job performance, how you
get along with people and even how you drive.

If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and can't focus, you probably need
to increase your sleep.

What and when you eat can make all the difference in the world. Consider how
sleepy most get after pigging out at Thanksgiving dinner. The proteins in turkey
can make you mighty tired. So can overloading on carbs. But overloading on
anything just before going to sleep can cause the additional calories to be
converted to fat while you sleep. Spicy foods can also cause sleep problems.
After all, there's an entire industry devoted to reducing the symptoms of
heartburn. The best bet? Mom's old trick of warm milk. Or, if you're lactose
intolerant, another warm (not hot) decaffeinated beverage may work.

Exercise makes you tired. Over time, though, exercise also makes your sleep more
efficient. As such, you'll sleep deeper but actually require less sleep to
function well. Working out also allows you to blow off some steam, which in turn
makes you more relaxed. As an added bonus, exercise will help your entire body
more efficient - and the higher your percentage of muscle, the more efficiently
your body metabolizes fat stores.

Sex. Yes, good old-fashioned boot knocking at bed time can produce wonderfully
deep slumber (and you thought it was just a fun thing to do after the kids went
to sleep). This is something men have been aware of and something that has
annoyed women since the dawn of time. But members of the fairer gender can also
enjoy the benefits from pre-slumber coital - especially if their
partners...umm...(how to say this politely?)..."do their jobs." It's a great way
to reduce stress, too!

Bedding. How old is your mattress? Older mattresses often lose their quality
over time. And, if you require a hard mattress and yours is too soft (or vice
versa), the quality of your sleep will be affected. Also look at your pillow(s),
sheets and comforters as culprits. Buying new pillows at least once per year and
washing your sheets once per week can make all the difference in the world. You
may need to swap out your current stuff, though, if you determine that you're
allergic what you're sleeping on.

Your partner. If your partner tosses and turns, you might want to try separate
sleeping situations. If this doesn't sound like much fun, you're probably right.
You might also want to consider a bigger bed. If you have a twin size mattress,
go with a queen size. Already at the queen? Go to the king. If snoring is the
issue, encourage your partner to stop sleeping flat on the back. Many have also
benefited from breath-rite strips.

Don't suffer from poor sleep any more. Improve the quality and quantity of your
sleep. You'll feel better and think better, too.