Improve Your Sleep
By Sara Butler
Sleep is one of the most important things you do every day. Yet, it is estimated by The Better Sleep Council that 70 million Americans struggle to get a good night’s rest. There are many things that can make it difficult for someone to fall sleep or can cause waking throughout the night. If you have trouble sleeping, here are some ideas to help you get a better night’s sleep.
Schedule It
Sometimes the root problem of a sleep problem is that you don’t have a regular sleep schedule. If you have kids, you know how important it can be to get your kids to bed at a regular time. Well, the same thing is true for adults. You should endeavor to go to bed at about the same time very night and wake up around the same time every day, too. It may not sound like fun to give up your weekend sleep-in, but that will only make it more difficult for you to keep your sleep schedule on point.
You need to aim to get around eight hours of sleep a night. Some people need less, some more. You should be able to tell how much sleep leaves you feeling refreshed and rested, so aim for what you personally need. If you find you’re sleepy during the day or you’re sleeping in when you have the ability to, then you’re probably not getting enough sleep every night.
Create a Good Sleep Environment
People can get into bad habits when it comes to going to sleep. Watching television or reading a book on your tablet is definitely not going to get your brain prepared for sleep. You need to turn off all electronic devices (including your phone!) about an hour before bed. Your room should be dark and cool, at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. You may find you need to cover your alarm clock or turn it away from you to get your bedroom dark enough. Taking these steps can make it easier for you to go to sleep and stay asleep all night.
Watch What You Drink
It should go without saying that coffee or caffeinated drinks leading up to bedtime aren’t going to do you any favors. You need to try to cut those things off in the afternoon if you don’t want it to impact your sleep. Alcohol is also something you should stay away from since too much of it can make your sleep quality poor. It’s probably a good strategy to avoid liquids leading up to bed; too much can have you up all night making trips to the bathroom!