In 1996, the FDA lifted its ban, but made the amino acid a prescription-only item. Sweat, then sleep . Regular exercise is 'one of the best things you can do to sleep soundly,' Dr. Hauri says. Exercising in the late afternoon releases the day's stress and decreases your appetite for dinner, which helps you stick to the light supper sleep experts recommend. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime.
Deep breathing is a fundamental relaxation technique.
In addition to its ritual value, five to 20 minutes of sitting quietly and breathing deeply before bed might help you fall asleep, Dr. Hauri says. Focus on a Zzzz's mantra. Slip into slumber with biofeedback. The NIH panel also gave high marks to biofeedback relaxation training as a sleep aid. Biofeedback is similar to meditation.