Sleep is important. According to experts, sleep helps people maintain critical body functions, restore energy, repair muscle tissue, and lets the brain process new information. Not getting enough sleep can hinder a person’s ability to think clearly, focus, react, and control their emotions.
Despite how critical sleep is to the human body, at times it can be evasive. Thousands of people toss and turn every night, struggling to find their slumber. Some struggle from a hyperactive mind, others from hormonal changes, and still others can’t sleep because of dietary reasons. No matter your struggle, here are a few tips to get you some z’s as quickly and regularly as possible.
DO adjust the temperature in your room to accommodate a comfortable rest (typically cooler with good ventilation). DON’T enjoy this temperature with late-afternoon napping, as rest late in the day can cause your body to reject sleep at bedtime.
DO get your body used to a sleep pattern by going to bed and waking up as close to the same time as possible every day. DON’T eat large meals right before bed, or drink alcohol or caffeine within 6 hours of going to sleep.
DO relax with a gentle activity that soothes you before bed, and continue this behavior as regularly as possible. DON’T exercise within three hours of bedtime, as your body can struggle to regain a resting state.
DO keep your bedroom for the bed only, avoiding activities that can be associated with busyness as you lie in bed trying to fall asleep. DON’T fill your bedroom with computers, televisions, and other devices that can serve as a distraction from slumber.
DO keep it quiet, filling the room with silence, white noise, or other soft, soothing sounds. DON’T invite the pets to bed with you. Love them as you may, their sleeping patterns may differ from yours and this could lead to late night nuzzles that take you away from dreaming.
These are just a few tips that may help you achieve greater rest throughout the night. For more, check out Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep and Sleep Better: The 5 Things Keeping You Up at Night.
Sweet dreams!
Resources
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/ncsdr/
http://www.cdc.gov/Sleep/index.html
http://heartinsight.heart.org/Spring-2016/The-Importance-of-Sleep/