Dr. Oz: The Value of Sleep

• Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to relax in bed before you fall asleep.



• If you rely on your alarm clock to wake you up every morning, you're not getting enough sleep, and you should go to bed earlier.



• If you need stimulation during the day for energy - such caffeine high-glycemic foods - then you're probably not getting enough sleep.



• Be sure to sleep in complete darkness. Even a small amount of light disturbs your body's natural cycle.



• Dreams are important for your mental health; give yourself time to dream. Dr. Naiman says, "The chronic loss of dreaming may be the most critically overlooked factor in clinical depression."



• Mentally prepare yourself for sleep; let go of the day's stresses.



• Rest like meditation, yoga, and prayer is just as important as sleep. "Rest informs most approaches to healing and I think we underestimate how powerful it is," he says.

Posted by Craig on Thursday, February 07, 2008