BetterSleep On A Budget

Establishing a bedtime routine will lull the body and mind into a sleepy state. Consider the following suggestions:

• Turn off electronic equipment early and quietly relax with your book or a puzzle.

• Put on fresh sheets, relax the lighting, and open a window to reduce stuffiness.
  

• Keep a journal at your bedside to jot down concerns that will keep you awake--tomorrow's schedule, family or work tension, financial problems.

• Drink a glass of water before bed so you don't wake feel dehydrated.
  

• Eat dinner before 7 p.m. If you are hungry afterwards, have a banana or a milky drink. Try making this healthy hot chocolate drink. Pour a mug of low-fat milk into a small pot and add 2 teaspoons of cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar. Turn on the heat and whisk as it warms to dissolve the cocoa. Pour into the mug and stir. Enjoy!