Keeping His Stick on the Ice
Sleep is an essential part of our lives, but it becomes even more important as we age, as it’s a necessity for healthy aging and staying energized. Ideally, everyone should sleep between 7.5–9 hours a night, but as we get older, this becomes much harder to achieve. Health complaints, minor disturbances, and a decrease in melatonin levels make it difficult for seniors to get a full night of sleep, which can cause irritability and fatigue. The Importance of a Good Night’s Rest QUALITY SLEEP PROMOTES HEALTHY AGING
Meet Attorney Dan Aiello!
Dan Aiello came to law by way of ice hockey. He has always loved the sport, and as a teenager, he refereed junior league games. Any call he made for a violent infraction triggered an automatic hearing. “So,” he says, “I had to defend my calls using the rules of USA Hockey from a very young age of about 16 in a quasi- court system.”
In order to combat these disturbances, here are a few things you can do to ensure you get enough sleep during the night.
Build an active daily routine.
Outdoor exercise and general movement every day is good for your body, but being outside and absorbing sunlight can balance and optimize your melatonin levels, which can help you fall asleep easier. On top of exercise, try weaving protein-rich snacks and meals into your routine. Foods like light meat and nuts can improve sleep quality, and dairy foods contain tryptophan, which is a sleep-promoting chemical.
He enjoyed it, so he decided to become a lawyer. Although Dan went into personal injury right away, he began as a defense lawyer representing insurance companies. He gained a lot of insight and experience but ultimately found he couldn’t reconcile the work with his values. “When you’re working as a defense lawyer, you fall into the habit of thinking every single claim has to be defended or is fraudulent. That really bothered me,” he says. It angers Dan that insurance companies defend dangerous behavior, and he has deep compassion for his clients. “We have these things that bring us joy and comfort and passion. If my health is taken from me, and I can’t run with my daughters anymore, that takes away one of the pleasures I have in my life,” he says. “You can’t really put a price tag on losing something like that.” He uses his prior experience with the insurance companies to represent his clients better, and he prides himself on winning the best possible settlements. In particular, he notes one case where he recovered $2.25 million after a lawyer at another firm tried to resolve it for only $75,000. Dan has been married to his wife Danielle for almost 10 years, and they have two daughters together — Abby, age 7, and Emma, 4. “There’s a lot of gymnastics and dancing and screeching going on in my house,” Dan laughs. They also have a dog, Kiki, whom they rescued about a year ago. “She’s still making mistakes, but we love her anyway,” he says. He makes it a point to exercise every day, and he still finds time for his first passion, hockey, by skating with his daughters. At Cellino Law, Dan has found camaraderie he never experienced as a defense lawyer. Like his colleagues, receiving justice for his clients remains his driving force. “I want to do the right thing in the community,” he says. “It gives me satisfaction to help people — ultimately, to help my neighbors.”
Eliminate unhealthy substances.
Limit your intake of caffeine and sugar throughout the day — especially right before bed — for better rest. It’s also best not to drink anything about an hour before bed, so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and disrupt your sleep.
Regulate your sleep schedule.
Keeping the same schedule for sleeping can reap immediate benefits. You will notice increased alertness during waking hours as well as enhanced memory and attention span. You may also start to feel tired around the same time every day, ensuring that you will actually go to sleep right on schedule. It can take time and patience to adjust to new habits to improve sleep, especially for the elderly. It won’t happen overnight, but the benefits that come with a better night’s sleep will have you feeling younger and healthier than ever before. If anything, you will feel more engaged and happier throughout your daily life.
2 Legal disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator