In this video, Dr. Chuck talks about sleep hygiene and the difference it makes as the new year begins.
Here are some sleep habits and sleep hygiene tips from this video:
- -If you’re waking tired, go get a check-up and be tested for a sleep disorder.
- -Abstain from caffeine 6 hours prior to bedtime
- -Set up a bedtime routine and stick with it.
- -Minimizing screen use and blue light from devices such as cell phones and tablets
Sleep Hygiene: New Habits to Cultivate for 2023
Dr. Chuck: I want to talk to you about something very foundational. Most of you at this time of the year are thinking about making some lifestyle changes, maybe making some choices as the New Year begins, and one of the most foundational choices that you can make is a decision to get a good night’s rest. You know, sleep is the foundation of which keeps us healthy, helps us to function efficiently, and helps us to respond to those life circumstances that we face, and so today I just want to mention some simple things. First of all, if you’re having problems sleeping, if you’re waking up feeling tired in the morning, it may benefit you to go see your primary care physician or provider and just have your pulse checked. I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder. By the way, I wrote a book on some of the spiritual dynamics of sleep and I didn’t realize that I had a sleep disorder. You know, one of those “do as I say, not as I do” physicians. Also, my wife has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. We didn’t know that we had it, and so I want to encourage you to to go and just get an objective opinion from a primary care doctor. You know, studies show that up to a third of patients never talk to their primary care doctor about their sleep because there’s a stigma associated with it. But after doing that, I want you to realize that there are some basic things that you can do, we call this sleep hygiene, and these basic things that you can do will help you get a better night’s sleep.
First of all, avoid caffeine six hours prior to going to going to sleep. You know, we live in a coffee driven, caffeine, red bull-type world, but if you drink caffeine prior to going to sleep, it increases your urine output and then you have frequent trips to the bathroom. Also minimize your water.
You want to make your sleep, your bedtime, as consistent and as boring as possible. That means minimizing screens. You don’t want to use your bed for anything like writing bills or anything. Basically, your bed needs to be the place where you go to sleep.
You also want to minimize light. You know light influences the melatonin pathways in your brain, and so just doing those simple things, those simple sleep hygiene habits may help you.
I’m Doctor Page, the best guy to see on the worst day of your life.
Many lose shut-eye because of guilt, regret, and anxiety. Here's a video where Kathy Willis talks about how to deal with guilty feelings.
The next link is a talk Dr. Chuck had with Luke and Suzy from Down Under on the Luke and Suzy show.
