Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Cover your eyes - better sleep in one night
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Here's a very very simple thing you can do to get a better night's sleep. Really. Seriously: eye covers.
If you do not have a totally dark, pitch black room to sleep in - and i mean any fricking electrical light - then consider giving eye covers a go. You may *think* you have a dark room, but if you can see your hand easily when the lights are off, maybe not.
Why is total darkness important? My understanding from Zeo Sleep Research Stephan Fabregas is it's hormonal: darkness triggers melatonin to come on which helps put us nighty night. Any light starts to tell melotonin to turn off the hormonal pipe to la la land and that means we start to wake up.
In my personal experience with the eye covers - especially in the summer when i have not wanted to get up with the sun - i have found that using these covers means that i sleep longer, better, deeper with less wakeful states. How do i know this? besides how i feel, i do use a Zeo to track my sleep (discussed here and here with Stephan), so i know. Yes i'm the type of person that if someone asks "how did you sleep" - i check the zeo.
ANYWAY cheap experiment: try a few nights without; a few nights (give yourself a chance to get used to the eye patches), and see if you feel more rested avec le mask. Let me know how it goes. Expecially travelling, this thing is a life saver.
Here's to your better night's sleep, fast. Tweet Follow @begin2dig
Why is total darkness important? My understanding from Zeo Sleep Research Stephan Fabregas is it's hormonal: darkness triggers melatonin to come on which helps put us nighty night. Any light starts to tell melotonin to turn off the hormonal pipe to la la land and that means we start to wake up.
ANYWAY cheap experiment: try a few nights without; a few nights (give yourself a chance to get used to the eye patches), and see if you feel more rested avec le mask. Let me know how it goes. Expecially travelling, this thing is a life saver.
Here's to your better night's sleep, fast. Tweet Follow @begin2dig
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COACHING with dr. m.c. 
3 comments:
mc,
Can you recommend comfortable eye covers? Who makes the ones that you use. Thanks.
Right on MC!
I actually put nice heavy shades over my windows, too. That made a huge difference, especially in the morning. For an eye mask (usually when I'm on the road and can't control my window shades), I use a Tempur-Pedic. It's a bit bulky, but very comfortable and very effective.
-Steve
M.George,
gosh you know, i've only ever used ones that come with stuff - like filene's basement in boston: jammies that come with a mask. I've had one from air canada for about ever.
Might be cool to check out the one that Steve suggests?? let me know if you find one you like.
Steve, totally agree that blinds or drapes in a bedroom are a luxury of darkness. welcome to the comfy cave.
mc
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