30/6/05

Went to school, practically the whole day. From morning 9am (left home) to 3pm (reach home). Haha the librarians are getting big headaches from me. Make them all the way back to get the books from a remote site haha. Archieved books.

I guess I could only jog 2 times this week. Today is the second time. Feels good jogging. Haha I just wonder what did magic on my body. Is it the cereal breakfast that I adopted 2 weeks ago? I haven't feel the kind of tiredness that I usually feel. Hope my body can keep this healthy feel up.

Slice of Life

Waltz of the Z's

It's well known that the average human being needs at least eight hours of sleep a day to perform at his optimum level. But how many of us are getting enough? In places like the U.S., the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently reported that 63 percent of Americans are sleep deprived. In a rapidly-developing country like Singapore, where high stress levels show no sign of abating, can we expect most of us to be getting enough rest?

Besides job and relationship issues, other things like the loss of a loved one, a drastic change or a serious illness can cause even greater numbers of Singaporeans to suffer from sleep deprivation. Ironically, this is the time when a good night's sleep is even more important to facilitate recovery and healing. Sleep deficiency can also lead to dangerous consequences like dozing off while driving.

So are you struggling to snooze?

Here are some tips that may help soothe your sleeping worries.

One solution to combating insomnia is to create a restful and tranquil sleep environment in your bedroom. This includes keeping the temperature cool, the light dim and the bed comfortable. If you're not sleeping well, your mattress may be the problem. Most people don't realise that their bed can be preventing them from sleeping well and, in some cases, keeping them awake.

Do you keep irregular hours? As much as possible, stick to a normal sleep routine and get extra rest if your body needs it. When stressed, adults should pay careful attention to what their bodies are telling them, make good judgements about getting to bed earlier and take frequent naps. Going to bed earlier may be tough in the beginning, but your body will gradually adjust to the cycle. If you find that initially, you can't fall asleep within half an hour or so, don't fret. Don't try to force yourself to sleep. It never works. Get up and do something - read a book, drink some milk, organise your shelf. You'll soon find yourself yawning and ready for bed.

Nightmares can disrupt sleep. Activities that increase the possibility of bad dreams include watching TV or eating just before bedtime. Excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol will also increase brain activity that can disturb your sleep.

There is no one formula for a good night's rest. These are just some pointers to get you started. But the most important thing to remember is - sleep is above all, mind over body. Relax your mind, don't worry about not being able to sleep, think of soothing images, and allow yourself to fall asleep naturally.