Small Ways to Combat Exhaustion

If you're like most of us, working, worrying and taking care of everything and everyone could be robbing you from the rest you need and leave you teetering on the brink of exhaustion.
Dr. Sujay Kansagra, director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and Mattress Firm's sleep health consultant offered tips to help you sleep better or at least smarter.

• Manage your sleep time

  Instead of trying to accomplish everything on your to-do list and then sacrifice sleep, reverse your approach. Set aside the time you need for a full night's sleep, and commit to stopping your activities at bedtime.

• Kick the caffeine habit

  Even morning caffeine can linger in your system when it's time to sleep. Coffee, tea, dark sodas, and dark chocolate are the main offenders.

• Brighten up the morning

  Getting plenty of bright light in the morning helps keep your sleep timing on track, particularly if you have to wake up very early.

Carla Schuit MPH, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, offers tips for snacks to boost energy and help combat exhaustion: "I recommend combining an energizing carb with sustaining protein or fat. For example, a small tennis ball size apple plus 1 tbsp. of nut butter, low fat cheese stick and whole wheat crackers, or carrot sticks with 2 tbsp. of guacamole. Combining the protein and carb or fat will give you immediate energy but also keep you full until you next meal. Keep in mind portion sizes and try to keep snacks to 200 calories or under."

Need a bit more help sleeping? Sound + Sleep mini can be used at home or on the go. I love the fact that there are so many different sound recipes, from white or pink noise to ocean sounds (though the sporadic seagull noises can be jarring at times), to even the sound of a train, if that's the thing that helps lull you to sleep!

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