One sheep, two sheep, three sheep . . . 50 sheep. If you’re tired of being tired – and counting sheep to get to sleep – now may be the time to take a look at your sleep habits. Poor sleep habits can leave you feeling drowsy during the day and wide awake at night.                                            

A few bedtime no-nos include watching television in bed, drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to bed, eating a big meal late at night, not exercising or exercising right before going to bed, going to sleep or waking up at varying times, spending too much time in bed tossing and turning, and napping late in the day.

Not getting enough sleep can harm your health, contribute to poor school or work performance, and increase the risk of injury. So to avoid these negative outcomes, you will need to substitute better behaviors. That is easier said than done, but if you really want to sleep better, you can. So start by changing one bad sleep habit at a time.

For example, if you like to eat a big meal late at night here are some options: allow at least three hours between eating dinner and going to bed; or try a light snack before bed so you won’t wake up with hunger pangs. Like to watch television in bed to relax? Try reading a book instead. And if you like to have a glass of wine in the evening, opt for a cup of tea in its place.

To learn more about the importance of sleep, take the free, online quiz, What Do You Know About Sleep?, on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/SleepIQ.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
 214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com