Don't Let Arthritis Damage The Quality Of Your Sleep
If you want to stay healthy, you must get plenty of high quality sleep; however, this is very hard if you are suffering from a great deal of arthritis pain. If you're unable to get enough sleep, your pain will worsen. This can become a vicious cycle. Luckily, there are ways to get around this! Read on for some great tips on getting a good night's sleep even with arthritis.
Be sure to establish a comforting routine at bedtime. Keep a regular schedule so that your body will know what to expect and what is expected of it every day. When you become used to going to bed at the same time every night, your body will become used to winding down at a certain time. When this is the case, you will be able to drift off to sleep more quickly and easily than if you went to bed at haphazard times throughout the week.
Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume. Limit yourself to just a couple of cups of coffee or tea a day and be sure that you do not drink them after 3:00 PM. While you may not feel the effects of caffeine while you are up and around, when you go to bed you're sure to feel it. It's a good idea to drink only pure filtered water after lunch time. This will help purify your blood and flush the caffeine from the morning out of your system. Additionally, it will ensure that you stay well-hydrated and keep your bones and joints well padded and lubricated for greater comfort.
Remember that your bed is not a good place for work, reading or watching television. Reserve your bed for sleeping and enjoying intimate times with your partner if you're fortunate enough to have one. Do your work at your desk or table, your reading in a comfortable chair and watch your television in your living room or family room. Make your bedroom a comfortable, quiet and private refuge from the outside world.
Avoid sleeping during the day if you are having a hard time sleeping at night. Even though you may feel quite tired in the middle of the afternoon, try to cope with it by some method other than taking a nap. For example you might take a brisk walk or swim or bike ride instead of napping. You'll find yourself energized and ready to face the rest of your afternoon followed by a good and satisfying night's sleep.
Avoid brisk exercise late in the evening. Just as energetic exercise will pick you up in the middle of the afternoon it will also pick you up just before bedtime. If you feel the need to stretch before bed, do some yoga, Tai Chi or some other quiet meditative form of exercise that will help you relax and sleep well. Pure meditation before bedtime is also an excellent way to get a good night's sleep. Take twenty minutes or so to review the events of the day and set them in order , then release them before embarking on your night's sleep.
A good night's sleep can solve a lot of problems and help alleviate the pain of arthritis. Follow the tips presented here to make the most of your days and your nights even with arthritis.
