A good portion of our 24-hr day is made up of sleeping. When it comes to shut-eye, we can do a lot to assist our bodies in having an optimal rest, sometimes maybe easier said than done.
For some, sleep comes easy but staying in the zone is not always that easy. It seems as the life-clock ticks on by, sleep patterns change and sometimes it’s harder to keep the momentum going throughout the night hours into the wee morning; we wake up before the sun rises and the early bird gets the worm.
For myself, I can fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow, but then toss to and fro from left to right and sometimes in-between, waking up to go for that middle-of-the-nite pee that habitually presents itself or that parched throat that needs lubrication to make it through to morning.
No matter what the reasons, waking up through the nite is not what we usually desire. I persistently resist getting out of bed until I feel I am well-rested enough to meet the day, although I have to concede when sleep no longer comes and I smell coffee brewing. I guess you could say I have been conditioned to early mornings as the man of the house usually is in competition with the birds to be the first one up, but when I smell coffee...
Recently I found out that there are a number of things we can do to help ourselves in the sleeping department. Some take a shot of brandy as a sleeping aid prior to bedtime; that was grandma’s cure for all...Nowadays, many prefer CBD oil and like-kind gummies for relaxation, while others swear by melatonin.
Some non-medicinal tips: Apparently sleeping on your left side will help alleviate stomach issues like heartburn/reflux and indigestion, not to mention curbing snorers. Sorry to say...sleeping on your sides can, however, contribute to wrinkles!
As well, ‘dad the internet’ says that it helps your body clear "interstitial waste from the brain," saying, "this brain cleanse may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases."
Research shows that right-side sleeping may lower nervous system activity, which reduces heart rate and blood pressure. Lying on the right side creates more space in the chest cavity and reduces pressure on the heart muscles. Some scientists think the age-related preference for right-side sleeping is an instinctive, protective response for the heart.
For side-sleepers it is advantageous to also stuff a pillow between your knees to alleviate pressure in the lower back, also a good technique for back sleepers to put a pillow under their knees.
The elite few that also know something about everything say that sleeping on your back is a plausible option to protect the spine and relieve strain on the back and joints.
Optimally, though, those in the know say that sleeping on the right side is the best option with the most benefits.
When you get to that age where you critique everything you are doing to stay rested, look refreshed and cognitively sound, you are probably at the age where no one cares anymore but you. Just make sure you have a good book to put you to sleep.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
