Healthy Sleep for Higher Performance

How'd you sleep last night? Even if you got your eight hours of quality shut-eye, we've all experienced those restless nights. We toss, turn and impulsively peek at the alarm clock every few minutes — which only adds to the stress of cutting into that precious time. 

Almost everyone has trouble sleeping from time to time. But when insomnia persists day after day, it can become a real problem. Beyond making a person tired and moody, a lack of sleep can have serious effects on health, increasing the risks for obesity, heart disease, type-2 diabetes and more. In healthcare, it can also mean a severe drop in productivity and an increase in carelessness, putting both yourself and your patients at risk! 

If a sleep aid is needed, there's no reason to avoid using one. But before turning to pills, here are seven tips for getting a better night's sleep:

• Exercise at some point during the day.
• Reserve your bed for sleep — not work or TV.
• Keep the bedroom comfortable.
• Start a sleep ritual.
• Have a bedtime snack — but not too much.
• Avoid alcohol and chocolate before bed.
• Wind down before going to bed.

If you still find yourself still tossing and turning or, worse, waking up like you never went to bed in the first place, then it may be a good idea to see your primary care physician and let them know. A sleepless night could be an early warning sign for something more severe.