Sleep, elusive sleep. Indeed, all many boomers want for Christmas is a good night's sleep[1] .


“The older we get, the more likely we are to develop sleep problems,” Dr. William C. Kohler, a Florida sleep specialist and a past official of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, told the New York Times[2] .


So for the sleep-impaired on your list, we'd like to make these gift suggestions:


1) The Original Sound Conditioner

This is the white noise machine by Dohm[3] (that rhymes with "ommmmm") that's been around for half a century. Its dome shape is easy to recognize. Turn it on, and tune out the rest of the world. The white noise it produces sounds like rushing air and masks other disruptive noises -- like spousal snoring. For light sleepers who are easily woken up by noise, this is a gem. It retails for about $60 and comes recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.


Originalsoundconditioner


2) SleepPhones

SleepPhones were designed by a family doctor[4] who had trouble falling back to sleep after she was woken up by emergency calls. They look like a soft headband and function along the same white noise principle. You can download soothing music from the website to play through your SleepPhones or just play your own. No little earbuds to fall out during the night, either. Available online for about $40; $100 for the wireless version.


Sleepphones


3) Blackout blinds

We sleep better in dark cool rooms, says the Mayo Clinic[5] . This means removing all electronics, TV sets, our phones, anything with a blinking light. But the big guns in the darkness fight are blackout shades or blinds. They can reduce light by almost 100 percent and people swear by them. Prices depend on the number of windows you have to cover and design style[6] .


Room Darkening Shades


4) Herbal answers

Many people reach for a prescription bottle before they've tried all the herbal remedies available. A gift basket for the sleepless is a great idea. It can include herbal teas like the Get Some ZZZs tea[7] from the Republic of Teas or organic Sweet Dreams tea from David's Tea. [8] Cap off the basket with some Sleep aromatherapy bath soak sold at Bath & Body Works[9] .


Herbaltea


5) A doctor's appointment

Well, why not? The National Institutes of Health says that about 10 percent of us suffer from such bad insomnia that we can't function the next day and in half those cases, the underlying cause is illness or the effects of a substance, like coffee or medication. Therefore, help for sleeping better may start at the doctor's office.


Doctor Patient Desk



Earlier on HuffPost50:




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  • Share The Wealth


    If you are throwing the party, have plenty of plastic containers on hand. As the soiree comes to an end, divvy up the desserts and invite guests to take home extra treats.




  • Plan Ahead


    Stretch your dollar save your waist: Bring home leftovers from dinners out and have them as lunch the following day.




  • Share Secrets


    Have a healthy cookbook exchange as opposed to an expected cookie party or pastry swap. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Mayo-Clinic-Cookbook-Eating/dp/0848727584" target="_hplink">The Mayo Clinic Cookbook</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weeknight-Fresh-Fast-Williams-Sonoma-Healthy/dp/1616280573/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323300609&sr=1-1" target="_hplink">Williams-Sonoma Cookbooks</a> are a good place to start.




  • Family First


    Favor family over food. Make the gathering about catching up instead of eating. Break out your favorite board games, make your own decorations together, quiz each other with family trivia (What is Uncle Bob's favorite baseball team?), or foster a day-long joke by seeing who is the most stealthy at <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-games/secret-snowman-708546/" target="_hplink">sticking a snowman</a> on relatives' backs.




  • Slow Down


    Save room for your favorite food and don't overdo it on appetizers. According to nutritionist <a href="http://www.oprah.com/health/Hidden-Calories-in-Party-Foods-and-Appetizers" target="_hplink">Tracy Gensler</a>, a portion of cheese cubes comparable to the size of two AA batteries comes out to 80 calories, and most people eat three to five times that much.
    Instead, head for the shrimp, a popular appetizer and crowd pleaser, that serves as a low-fat option, especially <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/healthy-holiday-appetizers-10000001866149/page3.html" target="_hplink">when poached</a>. Playing host or hostess? Serve up delicious holiday appetizers under 100 calories per serving like <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/healthy-holiday-appetizers-10000001866149/page5.html" target="_hplink">Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini </a>or protein-packed <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/healthy-holiday-appetizers-10000001866149/page13.html" target="_hplink">Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread</a>.




  • Snack Smart


    Eat a healthy snack before going to the party so you don't overindulge on a ravenous, empty stomach. Reach for something light, like an apple with cottage cheese or a handful of edamame with a spritz of lemon, to curb your pre-dinner grumblings without completely ruining your appetite altogether.




  • Eat First, Sip Second


    Only drink wine, beer and liquor on a full belly. Not only are you more likely to make poor dining decisions and overeat when drinking on an empty stomach, but the beverages alone quickly rack up the calories.

    An average 5 oz serving of red wine and white wine can have up to 125 calories. Beer <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/138115-beer-vs-wine-calorie-count/" target="_hplink">can vary</a> from standard American lagers like Budweiser containing 145 calories and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot containing 335 calories.<a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/diet-busters-ten-high-calorie-holiday-drinks" target="_hplink">Eggnog</a>, a treat you're sure to encounter, already comes out to 350 calories per per 1-cup serving, without any added liquor.

    Keep tabs on your intake and try turning your wine into a spritzer or your beer into a shandy.