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Sleep Better Tonight

ow do you feel when you wake up in the morning? If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably not as refreshed as you’d like -- and you could use some help to sleep better and fight fatigue during the daytime. Nearly 20 percent of us suffer from daytime sleepiness, according to a report published in the journal Neurology. In fact, some of those surveyed actually admitted to falling asleep during business meetings or conversations.

So what’s behind all this exhaustion? “Most Americans are not getting enough sleep, often because they cut back when they get busy,” says Dr. Aparajitha Verma, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston. Unfortunately, that’s the worst thing you can do if you’re trying to gather enough energy to get through the day awake.

Luckily, you don’t have to go through life feeling fatigued. You probably already know that staying away from caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals in the evening would help. But there’s a lot more you can do to get some high-quality shut-eye. Just try these sleep-better strategies to start snoozing better tonight and wake up recharged tomorrow.

Diary of a New Homemaker
for Saturday, July 31, 2010

Hacking Through the Jungle

I've been sick, sometimes critically, for eight years now. In the last 18 months, I've finally started to feel human.

The problem is, so much stuff has been on hold while we dealt with my illness that it's super backed-up around here, especially after the kitchen disaster/remodel last year, and we're just flat-out overwhelmed.

A Seasonal Taste:

One-Day Get-Aways

es, that's the sound of the school bell again, but don't despair--you and your family can still build in a fun variation of the family vacation on the weekend or their next day off. Mini-vacations offer the same spirit-renewing benefits as their longer counterparts. The LaClairs of upstate New York said that one-day trips are a good match because "they fit into our time schedule and budget."

A Taste of the Managing Money Section:

Battling Frugal Fatigue

ou've had enough. You're tired of just scraping by month after month, or of carrying a balance on one or more credit cards. It's frustrating to never see the light at the end of the financial tunnel. And it's very unfortunate that when we take the plunge, leave our jobs, and decide to be at home with our children full-time, it only gets scarier. Frankly, the whole thing is exhausting.

Here are a few things to think about to prevent the fatigue and frustration that go hand in hand with looking that monthly budget in the face.