Sleep Smarter—Be Smarter w/ Dr. Elbel

Can a night owl become a morning lark? Changing sleep patterns and improving the sleep quality

Humans are sleeping less We get 2-3 hours less sleep than in 1900

Why sleep? Memory Health/Immune system WeightMood Alertness (reduce accidents)

When we sleep Leptin levels go up Ghrelin levels go down

Sleep Improvement Topics Changing sleep patterns Falling asleep Better sleep If you awake

Night owl to morning lark? Sleep patterns engrained and developmental Can be changed with effort Need to fit with life circumstance

How to change sleep pattern Develop a bedtime routine Go to bed at the same time each night Get up at the same time each day (most important) After getting up immediately take a walk and expose self to light

Bedtime Routine: not just for kids! Sooth your body into sleep time –Low lighting –No tv, cell phone, computer –Warm bath –Snack—complex carbohydrates –Reading –Stretching with deep breathing –Warm your feet –Deep breathing, prayer, meditation

Make your environment conducive to sleep Comfortable bed Comfortable temperature Quiet room or white noise DARK Hide clock Banish pets

Daily activities that help with sleep Exercise—especially late afternoon or early evening (at least 3 hours before bed) No caffeine or none after 3 No alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime No naps Eat heavy meals earlier in day Drink enough water during day/early evening

Stop the Madness Refuse the Snooze (button)

If you can’t fall asleep Crossword, reading or Sudoku helps shift from emotional brain to frontal lobe No screens! After a half hour, get out of bed –Go in another room –If anxious, write worries in a log –Read until sleepy –Go back to bed

Getting up at night Avoid lights—put nightlight in bathroom Try to change habit of getting up to use the bathroom Do not eat Do not watch tv, use computer, or check phone

To nap or not to nap Avoid napping, especially if you are changing sleep patterns If you want to nap, do so early afternoon and for no more than 30 minutes

To supplement or not to supplement? Sleep medications can become habit forming Snack before bed—grapes, cookies and milk, corn, brown rice, oatmeal, almonds, bananas Consult with expert about using: –Melatonin –Magnesium –Valerian

Why do I feel more groggy after lots of sleep? Awakened in middle of deep sleep? Too much sleep? Will feeling worse occasionally give you permission to revert to habit you know is bad?

Do not catastophize sleep problems You get another chance tomorrow~