Healthy Habits for Quality Sleep

By Donna Stark

Do you find yourself struggling to fall asleep at night? Do you toss and turn for hours on end? If so, you may need to step back, breathe deeply, and take a long, hard look at your nightly sleep routine because it's clear as day that something is sabotaging your rest. And whether you want to believe it or not, that something could be you! Yes, you read that right. You could be the cause of all your sleep problems, but before you say, "I highly doubt that's the case," take a few minutes to read the helpful tips below. You may end up being quite surprised.

Create the Perfect Sleep Environment

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary. It should be a quiet, calm, and relaxing spot in the home where you can go to disconnect from the world. It should also be a place that promotes and enhances quality sleep during the night. In fact, sleep should be the main focus here, so try to design your room around that. You can do this by blocking external lights with heavy curtains, removing distracting devices (such as your TV, laptop, and phone), using a white noise machine, and installing soft lighting.

Learn the Art of Relaxation

It's hard to fall asleep when you are physically or mentally active right before you go to bed, so set some time aside to let your body relax. Turn your electronic devices off at least an hour before you want to fall asleep, dim the lights in your home, and engage in a calming activity. Reading a book, enjoying a cup of decaffeinated tea, taking a hot bath, or listening to some relaxing music are some great ideas to start with.

Eat on a Healthy Schedule

Do you tend to eat right before bed while catching up on your favorite show or social media sites? If so, you may want to rethink that! Getting your body to relax while it is still trying to digest that food you ate could be problematic. You should plan on eating your last meal of the day at least three hours before you go to bed. And for those random nights where you don't have a choice but to eat later in the evening, opt for something light. Save the triple-decker, greasy burger and fries for another time.

Removing Yourself From the Equation

Now that you know your daily habits and routine can significantly impact the quality of your sleep, what are you going to do about them? If you aren't sure how or where to start, visit your local chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic. They would love to help you get the rest your body deserves!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Raleigh, N.C.