The Best Thing I Did for My Brain in 2020 - Rest

[AARPRachelA]

Sleep is essential to our overall mental and physical well-being, advises the Global Council on Brain Health. It’s important that we pay attention to our sleep habits in order to manage both the short-term and long-term effects. Restorative sleep can leave us feeling refreshed and energized, and we may feel more in control of our mood and emotions. The opposite might be true the day after a restless night of sleep.

How did you ensure you were getting enough restorative sleep in 2020? Did you incorporate a new bedtime routine? After a good night's sleep, how do you feel? Did you struggle to get enough sleep and feel well-rested at times? What did you do to cope with that?

Learn more about ways to keep your brain healthy as you age by checking out the book “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age” by Sanjay Gupta, MD.

[PamelaF125687]

Exercise in the day, whether swimming or yoga makes me sleep well.
Sometimes I'll drink some Celestial Seasonings Vanilla Sleeptime Tea.
But, I always listen to singing bowls or nature sounds on Insight Timer, a free app for your phone.
That puts me right to sleep.

[PaulH627938]

the best thing for a good night's sleep is to tire yourself out during the day as a walk would do or at work & take no naps then you'll drop like a rock in bed at night. i also clear my mind as i lay in bed by singing songs & thinking pleasant thoughts until i "drift" off. it works for me.

[Rhymesometimes]

One tip for those who have a hard time get to, or stay asleep, is to have a notebook on your night stand and empty out anything that is swirling around in your head.  Better on paper then ruminating endlessly on a loop. Christine

[8strts]

I take #6 Hylands when my brain does not want to shut down. It’s homeopathic medicine and it calms the mind so you drift into your dreams.

I usually watch a movie, a happy one, or read a book, or play a game, not a thinking game because your brain is too focused, just a funny one.

I tell my Reptilian brain, I will be going to sleep at 11:30 pm, so that way it can’t think of anything else to block that idea. It usually works, just try it.

[RacquelE712599]

Well, I shower drink my tea watch a movie then night night 

[AARPRachelA]

I am also a tea drinker at night. It's such a nice way to wind down! What tea do you like to drink @RacquelE712599?

[2Papa]

Why is it that when I was younger I had trouble sleeping but now I have trouble staying awake?

[LucieS228016]

I drink Lemon Balm herbal tea. Smooth and relaxing. Also, especially if I wake in the night, I use a sleep app on my phone, like Calmor Pzizz.  They have sleep stories or relaxing talks to help relax the mind as well as the body. Very helpful.

[RacquelE712599]

Thank you, for asking Rachel I Drink Celestial Seasonings Chamomile Tea. Rachel please share , What kind of you like ?

[kmenden]

Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile.

[AARPRachelA]

I also have Celestial Seasonings! I like the sleepytime with vanilla, and I also will mix chamomile with a bag of Herbal Medicinal peppermint with probiotics. I also enjoy Good Earth's sweet and spicy nighttime tea.

[m966371g]

I stop eating 3 hours before bedtime, and never snack, so my sleep is usually "solid." I take a warm shower, go to bed at 8 p.m. every night, and read until 9 p.m.Not exciting, but I sleep about 7 or more hours so it works!

[AvocadoDog]

If I'm going to bed late, and am going to be sleeping in, I put the "vampire panels" up. I covered some foam boards with felt the same color as the curtains and they fit right in the window casing. Between that and the "blackout" curtains, my bedroom is as dark as can be no matter what time I wake up. Virtually no light, and a lot less noise, gets in and I don't worry about waking up too early. But it's probably not the healthiest sleeping routine.

Lately, despite how much rest I get, I tend to wake up still feeling tired. But once I physically get up, that fatigue is gone. I imagine this will just increase as I get older. Wonderful.

[AARPRachelA]

Your vampire panels are genius! I like it to be as dark as possible when I sleep too, but my window coverings allow light in now. I have sunshades and then blackout curtains. It makes it dark enough at night, but once the sun comes up some light gets in at the top of the curtains. It's probably for the best because it helps me wake up.

I also experience feeling tired when I wake up, but then once I get moving the fatigue disappears. I try to start the morning by not looking at my phone. Instead, I give my dog some snuggles and stretch.