Sleeping is a great way to refresh yourself, and our tips for better sleep will help you have a good quality sleep.
However, suppose you’re not getting enough sleep. In that case, you may be more likely to get sick, have a lower immune system, and even put yourself at risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. So, how do you make sure that your sleep habits are healthy?
Here, we’ll focus on the importance of good sleep in promoting health and well-being.
1. Establish a nightly routine
Establishing a nightly ritual is one of the most crucial elements of sleep-healthy habits. Without it, focusing on any other aspect of getting proper rest is challenging.
A good routine will help you mentally prepare for bedtime, which can help you wind down from the day and make falling asleep easier.
It can also involve getting physically ready for bed: washing your face and brushing your teeth are examples.
You should also set aside time to relax before sleeping; reading is a great way to do this!
2. Use your bed for sleep only
The most important thing you can do to improve your sleep is to use your bed only for sleep and sex.
Do not read, watch TV or work on your laptop in bed.
If you like to lie down and relax with a good book before turning out the lights, consider moving this ritual elsewhere – like onto a chair next to an open window with plenty of fresh air blowing through the room.
Or maybe even outside: some people find that reading by lamplight under the moonlight helps them wind down enough for bedtime as part of an overall strategy for tips for better sleep
3. Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature
The ideal temperature for a bedroom is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius)—not too cool or hot.
When sleeping, there should be no discomfort; even a little irritation can affect your sleep.
Also, avoid heating the room as an office or working area.
Instead, you want the space to feel like a destination for rest and rejuvenation, so keep things that further that purpose!
4. Turn off electronics to cut off blue lights
You should set aside at least an hour before bedtime for electronics-free relaxation. Switch off the television, computer or phone screens (or at least keep them dimmed), and no bright lights from other sources such as alarm clocks or nightlights.
Also, avoid looking at bright screens in the late evening. If you need to use your phone as an alarm clock, check social media before bed (which we don’t recommend doing!).
Use a blue light filter on your devices so they’re not emitting harsh light into your eyes while you try to fall asleep.
5. Cut out or limit caffeine and other stimulants late in the day
One of the most common causes of sleep problems is caffeine.
Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you up at night, even when you’re tired.
It takes about six hours to half the caffeine levels in the blood, so drinking coffee or tea in the afternoon or evening will still affect your sleep.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks. If these are part of your daily habits, avoid them late and see how much better your sleep quality is!
6. Exercise regularly but not right before bed
Sleep is precious, especially if you are busy; its value is enormous.
We all know that exercise is good, but did you know it can affect sleep if done close to sleep time?
The National Sleep Foundation says that regular exercise improves sleep quality and duration.
Exercising regularly can also help reduce stress levels. Stress disrupts your circadian rhythm (your internal clock), making it more difficult to fall asleep at night or stay asleep throughout the night.
Exercise increases serotonin, a hormone that regulates moods and emotions and promotes sleep. So, incorporate exercise into your routine for tips for better sleep.
7. Avoid heavy meals and alcohol close to bedtime
You’re not alone if you’ve ever had trouble sleeping after a big meal.
It turns out that overeating before bed can impact your ability to get restful sleep.
Your digestive system works hard to process food and absorb nutrients, so it uses energy from your body.
Alcohol also affects your sleep patterns because it causes fatigue by disrupting the natural balance of chemicals in our brains – especially serotonin levels, which regulate moods.
Drinking before bedtime will disrupt this balance, resulting in poor-quality restorative sleep, so try not to have any drinks within four hours of going to bed.
The Bottom Line
If you want to get better sleep, there are many things that you can do.
Some may seem obvious, and others may be a little more challenging, but our tips for better sleep will help you improve sleep quality.
If one thing is not working for you, try another until something clicks—and remember that your sleep can still improve even if nothing works!
So many things impact how well we sleep at night, making it important to think about what works best for each person individually.