To Sleep, Perchance to Start - Part 2

Pure Sport

In my last post, I talked about the importance of sleep. Now, let's see if you're getting enough sleep.

You are likely getting enough sleep to help you play better basketball if you can answer NO to all of the following questions:

1) Does your mom or dad have to wake you up in the morning?

2) Do you usually need an alarm clock to wake you?

3) Once you wake up, do you still feel tired during the morning?

4) Do you feel slow throughout the day?

5) Do you often take naps during the day?

6) Do you need to drink soda, caffeine to wake up or stay up?

7) Do you sleep in late during the weekends?

If you answered NO to all of these questions, then congratulations! You're one of the lucky few who are probably getting enough sleep. No need to read on. Good Night.

If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then keep reading....

How to Get a Good Night's Sleep

DO:

Try to keep a regular bedtime

Keep the lights down low

Keep things quiet

Take a warm bath before bed

Use a comfortable bed with plenty of room

Read a book before bed

Keep the room slightly cool

Exercise early in the day or afternoon

DON'T
Drink caffeine after lunch

Eat chocolate after lunch

Watch TV right before bedtime

Surf the internet before bedtime

Play video games before bedtime

Take late or long afternoon naps

Exercise late in the day or at night

Try these suggestions out and remember that it can take a few weeks to get into a good routine that you can keep doing on a regular basis. If you do get enough sleep, you'll find that you're more awake, alert, happy, and maybe even on the starting 5.