“I Can’t Sleep!”


The title of this post is a mindset. It’s also the truth for many of us in midlife and beyond. According to the National Sleep Foundation, “Along with the physical changes that occur as we get older, changes to our sleep patterns are part of the normal aging process.

As people age they tend to have a harder time falling asleep and more trouble staying asleep than when they were younger. It is a common misconception that sleep needs decline with age.”

I guess that means that I not only look like I’m aging, but I also look like a sleepless zombie as well!

It’s a good thing I have a sleep app (yes, there’s an app for everything). It’s called “Sleep Score” and it gives me a nightly metric that defines what percentage of last night’s sleep was deep, light, or REM. I’ll admit there have been mornings when I’ve gotten a score of “91” (out of 100) and felt, “Geez, that feels more like my age than my Sleep Score!” I don’t know about you, but I base my sleep quality on how it feels in the morning behind my eyes and in my bones.

Yes, I do a pretty good job of adhering to all the recommended sleep habits. I have also taken this time during the pandemic to kick my Advil PM habit of many years. I’m also lucky that a bad night’s sleep can often mean a post-lunch siesta the next day, given my lighter schedule these days.

What are your favorite secrets to a sound night of sleep?

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