Apparently we need less sleep when we are older, but then the experts say there aren\u2019t really any golden rules about it: people vary so much on this one. It\u2019s quality more than quantity that determines how you feel when you get up \u2013 a long restless night is worse than a short but deep and refreshing sleep. Worrying about sleeplessness is the really awful thing \u2013 and I have experience of that. In the early hours of the morning I have been known to give up on the struggle and the day that has followed hasn\u2019t been nearly as bad as I feared, though a little unreal. The next night is wonderful! But those hours when all the hidden thoughts that are normally buried float before you uncontrollably and the responsibilities of the next day haunt your partial consciousness is \u2013 if I believed in it \u2013 a presage of hell.<\/p>\n
Some good ideas on preparation for a good night\u2019s sleep in a book by Hilary Boys (\u2018Boosting your Energy\u2019<\/em>) are worth taking note of:<\/p>\n A little oil of lavender on your pillow before you settle down can be helpful, or a warm ( not hot ) bath before bed, a drink of valerian tea or one of the relaxing pills that you can buy from most herbal stores can also help to prepare you for a good night\u2019s rest. Exercise during the day and not going to bed too early so that you are really tired can help as well. I haven\u2019t found this aid for a proper night\u2019s sleep anywhere, but keeping a diary could be useful. Getting down some of the events of the day could reduce some of the unreflective stress that otherwise you might take to bed with you.<\/p>\n Bryan <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Apparently we need less sleep when we are older, but then the experts say there aren\u2019t really any golden rules about it: people vary so much on this one. It\u2019s quality more than quantity that determines how you feel when you get up \u2013 a long restless night is worse than a short but deep and refreshing sleep. Worrying about sleeplessness is the really awful thing \u2013 and I have experience of that. In the early hours of the morning I have been known to give up on the struggle and the day that has followed hasn\u2019t been nearly as <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"yoast_head":"\n\n