Sleep Hygiene - Sleep hygiene refers to non-medical treatment options for improving sleep. Below are ways to improve your sleep hygiene. Obesity: When an individual is overweight they are very likely to suffer from sleep apnea (Marks, 2012). Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths occur during sleep (Marks, 2012) http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/article.htm. When patients are obese they often suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (Marks, 2012). The extra weight crushes the trachea creating loud snoring or creates long pauses where the body is deprived of oxygen (Marks, 2012). I lived with a person with obstructive sleep disorder and he occasionally jerked as if he was being held under water. Not only is it scary to hear someone struggling to breathe when they sleep, but they are often restless and lethargic throughout the day (Marks, 2012). REM sleep is interrupted when you struggle to breathe while you sleep (Marks, 2012). Studies conclude that patients with sleep apnea are generally obese (Marks, 2012). Studies have also shown that people who get enough sleep crave fewer sweets and empty-calorie foods (Wilkey, 2012). If your New Year's resolution is to lose weight, add sleep. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/obesity-and-sleep_n_3715937.htmlReduce Intake of Caffeinated Beverages: Caffeine is a stimulant drug and a Northwest staple. It's also a crutch for college students during midterms and finals week. I was nine when I drank my first coffee and I don't remember when my first caffeinated soda was. Studies show that regardless of when it is consumed, caffeine affects the sleep cycle (Woerner, 2013). That's right, even a “cup of Joe” in the morning can prevent sleep (Woerner, 2013)