Strange Way Night Owls Can Fix Their Sleep Schedule

Author Rob Tanner

May 22nd 9:47 PM

The normal 9-to-5 work world can be extremely difficult to adjust to for night owls. However, a sleep expert has recently found an interesting way to fix this problem according to CNBC Make It.

Dr. Mandana Mahmoudi is a clinical director of sleep medicine who has spent many years mastering her field.

Mahmoudi says that she recommends a trip to Europe for those who want to fix their sleep schedule; “I’ve sent a lot of my patients for a 10-day trip to Europe as a vacation.” Here’s why she suggest this trip.

Night owls naturally go to bed and wake up later than most other people because of their circadian rhythms. Traveling creates a sort of jet lag when you go to time zones that aren’t similar to your own. Mahmoudi says this helps to create a sleep schedule that’s closer to the 9-to-5 schedule for those struggling to wake earlier like night owls.

Mahmoudi noticed that when compared to other sleep hacks like taking melatonin or trying light therapy, the ten day trip to Europe took a lot less time to fix night owls sleep schedules. She says, “when you come back from Europe, you will have a natural jet lag no matter what. Even if you’re sleeping until noon European time, that’s like 6 a.m. U.S. time.”

To keep this European time zone sleep schedule Mahmoudi recommends that you take 0.5 to 1 milligram of melatonin 2-3 hours before you want to go to bed once you get back to the US.

“Consistency after [the trip] is important because you genetically are a night owl. So unless you keep yourself in line with the load of melatonin [at night] and light in the morning, you will drift out again,” Mahmoudi says.

Country 103.7’s funniest guy in town is none other than Rob Tanner with Tanner in the Morning! Rob Tanner has been the host of WSOC-FM's Tanner in the Morning Show in Charlotte, NC for 20 years. The show was named the 2018 ACM Major Market Personalities of the Year. He is well-versed in all topics in country music. Tanner also is a sports junkie who writes about any Carolina sports team, and he and his wife Missy spend most of their down exploring theme parks. He writes Disney insider content.

6 Foods To Avoid Right Before Bed If You Want A Good Night's Sleep

Isn’t it frustrating when you initially have trouble just falling asleep…but then to wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep? Yeah, not getting a good night’s sleep is probably of the worse things EVER. Especially if it’s a consistent thing. There are many different reasons why you could possibly be losing sleep. You might think it’s stress, hormones, lack of exercise, or something else. But have you considered your diet yet?

The website Mind Body Green consulted with registered dietician Julie Stefanski, M.ed., RDN about the foods you should avoid to have a better chance of getting a good night’s sleep…and without waking up!

According to Stefanski, there are 6 major foods or types of food you should avoid and they’re listed below. But don’t worry! If after you read this list, you’re thinking, “hmm, yeah, but what foods can I actually eat before bed?” Obviously, we’ve all done some midnight snacking here and there before. Stefanski also gives some healthy and beneficial suggestions for that too. One major theme with midnight snacks: eat something high in magnesium, like the examples at the bottom of the list.

Do you think the way you eat disrupts your sleep? What do you like to snack on before bed?

Spicy Foods
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 12: Bottles of Sriracha hot chili sauce are shown on December 12, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Huy Fong Foods, the maker of Sriracha, says it can’t ship any more of its sauce until next month because in California, where the sauce is produced, the Department of Public Health is now enforcing stricter guidelines that require sauces be held for 35 days before they are shipped. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Alcohol
Fried and Fatty Foods
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – FEBRUARY 17: An employee serves a portion of Kentucky Fried Chicken and chips at the international chain’s local franchise February 17, 2006 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Officials are trying to reassure consumers that it is safe to eat well cooked poultry following the discovery of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in swans in Europe. According to the Times newspaper of London, viruses are reportedly destroyed by cooking for at least one minute at 75C (167F) or higher. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)
Acidic Foods
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 08: In this photo illustration, products containing high sugar levels are on display at a supermarket on April 8, 2016 in Melbourne , Australia. The World Health Organisation’s first global report on diabetes found that 422 million adults live with diabetes, mainly in developing countries. Australian diabetes experts are urging the Federal Government to consider imposing a sugar tax to tackle the growing problem. (Photo by Luis Ascui/Getty Images)
Carbonated and Caffeinated Drinks
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 22: Bottles of Fanta are displayed in a food truck’s cooler on July 22, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on Tuesday to place a measure on the November ballot for a 2-cents-per-ounce soda tax. If the measure passes in the November election, tax proceeds would help finance nutrition, health, disease prevention and recreation programs. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Big Meals
Instead of Those, Try These
Bananas
Just like those starches, bananas are easy on your stomach. Plus, they contain potassium, which is a key component in regulating your body’s fluid balance.
Chickpeas/Hummus
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 05: A view of hummus and ingredients in the kitchen at the Holiday Appetizer class during the Food Network Magazine Cooking School 2016 at The International Culinary Center on November 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for Food Network Magazine)
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts
Dark Chocolate
Photo by Francois G. Durand/Getty Images