Burt Dellinger is the new associate editor for BedTimes and its sister publication, Sleep Savvy. Prior to joining the International Sleep Products Association, he worked as senior copywriter for Midan Marketing, an award-winning, full-service strategic marketing, research and creative agency specializing in the meat and agriculture industry. In his free time, he enjoys working out, going to the movies with his wife, Patty, and is an aficionado of standup comedy.
BedTimes: Tell us about your bedtime routine.
Burt Dellinger: If it’s a worknight, I organize my workspace, lay out my clothes for the next day and go around the house making sure the lights are out and doors are locked. I’m a restless sleeper and have hypoglycemia, so I usually eat something with sugar in it, like ice cream, to help me sleep.
BT: What do you avoid before bed?
BD: I try not to eat spicy food late, or my heartburn will keep me awake all night.
BT: How many hours of sleep do you typically get?
BD: I’ve never needed or wanted a lot of sleep. Even as a baby, I drove my parents crazy because I never wanted to sleep. A good night’s sleep for me is four to six hours. If I sleep any longer, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck the next day.
BT: Pets in the bed – yay or nay?
BD: Yes, we share our bed with two dogs, an 11-pound maltipoo and a 35-pound beagle-basset. Like that popular meme says, “First dogs steal your heart, then they steal all the room in your bed.”
BT: Barefoot or socks?
BD: (Wailing like Faye Dunaway from the cult classic movie “Mommie Dearest”) “No! Socks! Ever!”
BT: What’s on your nightstand?
BD: My phone on its charger, the Apple TV remote, a lamp and a vintage clock radio. I’m old and it’s easier to see the time at a glance on the clock than on the phone.
BT: Are you a napper?
BD: Yes, absolutely! I always say a nap is better than a night’s sleep and a snack is better than a meal.
BT: What are your best sleep tips?
BD: Being warm, quiet and still lulls me to sleep every time. If I have trouble falling asleep (which is often), slowly rubbing my foot on the sheets helps me relax. If my mind is racing, I start counting backward from 150 — I rarely make it past 100 before I’m out cold.
BT: What are your secrets for getting a good night’s sleep while traveling?
BD: I’ve read that when you sleep in a new place, your brain won’t allow you to fall asleep completely. It’s called the “first night effect” — your brain’s left hemisphere stays alert while your right hemisphere tries to sleep. It’s a survival instinct. So, I try to lull my brain into feeling more secure. If I’m in a hotel room, I wedge a chair under the door handle and leave the lights on so I remember where I am if I wake up during the night. I also like the bodyguard’s burglar alarm: wedge a plain rubber doorstop under the door and roll out some bubble wrap in the foyer in front of the door. Should anyone try to enter your room, they’ll have to force the door open, and the bubble wrap popping will surprise the intruder, wake you up and give you time to react.
BT: Is there anything else you would like to add?
BD: Have you heard the idiom, “Those who can’t do, teach?” Since I’ve had a rocky relationship with sleep my entire life, I enjoy finding and suggesting ways to help others sleep better. No one appreciates sleep more than someone who constantly struggles with it.
Read more Nightcap Q&As with your favorite industry personalities: Nightcap Q&A With Rachel Gomez.
