Are You Sabotaging Your Sleep?

Around two thirds of Americans have problems with sleeping a few nights a week. And what that adds up to in real terms is a lot of avoidable arguments with partners and children, a lot of hours in lost productivity, a lot of mistakes that didn’t need to be made, and a lot of grumpy days that could have been happy ones! Today we're looking at some bedtime habits that can boost your quality of sleep, and some of theNew Chapter organic vitamins that can also help you switch off fully.

1. Set a schedule - stick to it!
   It's actually really hard to go to bed earlier than you are used to, and when you get to bed later than normal, you often find that you can't sleep in to make up for it. Create a sleep schedule that you can stick to as closely as possible.
2. DON'T bring books to bed
   This one sounds counter-intuitive. For many of us, reading is the only way we can get to sleep. However, when you don't have a book handy or you're travelling, this will increase insomnia.
   
3. Upgrade your mattress
   Going from a $1000 mattress to a $2000 mattress might not make a difference to your sleep … apart from keeping you awake at night thinking about your credit card statement! However, if you're sleeping on a decades-old mattress, one that is exceptionally worn or exceptionally cheap, the discomfort could be seriously harming your sleep.
4. LED lights
   The glare of LED lights can actually be a sleep destroyer for many of us, that even New Chapter Tranquilnite and organic vitamins can't fix! If you have an extra bright alarm clock, a night light, a VCR or stereo that stays on all night, start switching off at the wall.
5. Late exercise
   It's important to get exercise. But if you exercise late at night you’re making a health trade-off … not a health improvement. The chemicals that your body creates when exercising are NOT conducive to sleep! Go to sleep earlier, then exercise in the early morning instead of late at night.
6. Don't persist too long
   If you have followed all the checklists for good sleep and still just can't nod off, don't stay in bed. You'll just frustrate yourself. Hop up and balance a checkbook, read by a lamp or play Sudoku.