Adding a short nap a day can be an excellent way to refill the ol' sleep bank.

The National Sleep Foundation reports that sleep experts recommend anywhere from seven to nine hours of sleep for the average adult. As anyone over fifty will tell you, however, that older people wake more frequently through the night. It is just one of those hardships of an aging body.

Yet your nightly sleep requirement remains the same regardless of age. A night of interrupted sleep can result in sleep deprivation, which can lead to physical and psychological problems. What is one way you can compensate?

You can work naps into your daily routine. When you plan naps as part of a regular daily routine, it can be useful in promoting wakefulness and make up the sleep debt caused by a restless night. 

What, you say you don't have time to take a nap? Even an hour of nap time can help. Not sleeping well at night? Have you considered changing your mattress? Sore hips, sore shoulders, and back issues can be caused by a "too firm" or "too soft" mattress, or simply one that is worn out. A new mattress, like one of the Nest Bedding organic mattresses made with 100% natural latex, organic cotton and organic wool, can relieve pressure points and help you pay off that sleep debt.