3 Important Reasons to Keep Your Bedtime
By Genevieve Cunningham
Many of us put absolutely zero thought into the end of the day. It's the time of day when we simply melt ourselves into bed. When we forget work and responsibilities and everything else, and we fall into a soft and satisfying sleep. Unfortunately, it rarely works that way. We might melt ourselves into bed, but the sleep is often low quality and interrupted. Can this be changed? It's possible! If you're ready to get better sleep on a regular basis, take a look at these good reasons to set a bedtime and stick with it.
For the Routine
Our bodies and brains like routines. When we have routines, we lower our overall stress and anxiety. We know what to expect way in advance, and it makes it easier to follow through with what we have planned. This includes healthy habits such as balanced eating, drinking water, exercising, and going to bed on time. If for no other reason, keep your bedtime purely for the benefit of having a routine. Chances are good that it will make a much bigger impact than you think.
For Mental Health
When we don't get enough sleep -- which happens a lot! -- we hurt more than our physical health. We also put our mental health in danger. A lack of sleep can lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, moodiness, and hormonal imbalances. These problems can wreak havoc on our minds and on our attempts at handling life. We won't have the patience, the perseverance, or the mental ability to handle life's problems. As we get more sleep, these areas of our health (and life) may see a significant rise, which means maintaining good sleep should be high on the priority list.
For Long-Term Wellness
Our bodies can't function at their best when we aren't getting adequate rest. Besides lacking energy, we may also find that we lack focus and motivation. We may find our body systems -- such as metabolism and digestion -- slow down and become sluggish. Without rest, we won't feel good in the present or in the future. If you want long-term health, creating good sleeping habits is a must -- and a bedtime is a staple of a healthy sleeping routine! Find one that works for you and stick with it to see the biggest impact on overall (and long-term) health.
Keeping a bedtime isn't something that's just for kids. It's actually important for everyone, and for a wide variety of reasons. Create a plan for a bedtime, a wind down routine, and keep the habits every day. With this little addition to your day, you may find multiple benefits to your health, your mood, and your life in general moving forward.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Glen Carbon, Ill.