Sleep Hygiene - Sleep hygiene refers to non-medical treatment options to improve sleep. Below are ways to improve your sleep hygiene. Obesity – When a person is overweight, they are most likely to have sleep apnea (Marks, 2012). Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep (Marks, 2012) http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/article.htm. When patients are obese, they often suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (Marks, 2012). Their extra weight crushes their windpipe, creating a loud snoring sound or creating long pauses during which the body is deprived of oxygen (Marks, 2012). I lived with someone with obstructive sleep disorder and he would pant occasionally as if he was being held underwater. Not only is it frightening to hear someone struggle to breathe while sleeping, but they are often restless and lethargic throughout the day (Marks, 2012). REM sleep is interrupted when you have to 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 have fewer cravings for 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 Consumption of Caffeinated Beverages – Caffeine is a stimulant drug and staple food of the Northwest. It is also a crutch for students during midterm and finals week. I was nine years old when I had my first coffee, and I don't remember the date of my first caffeinated soda. Studies show that no matter when caffeine is consumed, it affects your sleep cycle (Woerner, 2013). It's true, even a "cup of Joe" in the morning can interfere with sleep (Woerner, 2013)