Unfortunately, as we age, our post-alcohol sleep quality goes downhill quickly.
And thats not even getting into the hangover.
It only takes a couple drinks to ruin your rest, but all isnt lost.
Heres how to turn a potentially restless night into something thats at least a little recharging.
Instead of being drunkenly sleepy, your body snaps back to life.
But if you prepare your sleeping environment before you head out, you might do a lot.
For starters,remember the basics.
Good sleep hygiene is even more important now.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means its going to make you peea lot.
That also means that as you drink youre dehydrating yourself.
Drink plenty of water
Obviously the best solution is to drink water.
Easy enough, but the key is how much and when.
If possible,alternate between one drink and one glass of water.
And its a good idea to avoid caffeine.
That means no vodka & Red Bulls, and steer clear of the Irish Coffees.
Having dinner with friends first and then planning to hit the bar?
Have a few glasses of wine at dinner, and nurse a drink or two at the bar.
It really just comes down to your individual tastes and preferences.
This way you get decent restandmiss out on the hangover the next day.
Stay away from Tylenol or other acetaminophen-based medicines as they can damage your liver when mixed with alcohol.
Also, stay away from anysleeping medication.
Youcant go wrong with high-fiber foods, like vegetables, fruits and crackers.
Honey is another solid post-drinking snack.Dr.
Richard StephensatKeele Universityexplains that low blood sugarcan make the after-effects of drinking alcohol worse.
Keep your before-bed foods neutral.
These are great snacks for the morning after as well, when your blood sugar will be especially low.
The key to beating dehydration is prevention.
Finally,put your phone on silentor into airplane mode so notifications dont wake you.
If it’s possible for you to, turn off your alarm and plan to sleep in.
Youll need more time to get the rest you need.
If thats you, attempt to call it a night next time.
This story was originally published on 4/25/16 and was updated on 7/9/19 to provide more thorough and current information.
Updated 3/4/22 with new details.
