4 Tips to Help You Achieve Better Sleep at Night
By Stephen R. Farris
Getting a good night's sleep is essential to our overall health. However, due to today's hectic school and work schedules, a good night's sleep is hard to achieve.
Studies show that we should get at least 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep at night. But many folks try to function much less. Not getting enough sleep at night could cause back and neck problems, more aches and pains in your joints and muscles, and leave you feeling less alert and sluggish throughout the day. Productivity goes down, as well as a decline in your overall health.
There are a few things you can try to turn the tables on your sleep pattern, in order for you to get the restful slumber you should be getting at night.
Temperature
A hot bedroom leads to tossing and turning most of the night, as well as sweating, which can reduce the amount of restful sleep you get. The ideal situation is a cooler bedroom with a temperature around 65 degrees. Aim for this setting. However, you may adjust it a little higher or a little lower until you find a temperature that's just right.
Lighting
Besides a cool bedroom, you might add darkness to the list. Light can be a distraction when it comes to falling asleep. Try replacing your curtains with blackout curtains, to reduce the amount of light entering your windows. Blue light is another distraction. Most blue light comes from electronic devices, such as your television, computer, or smartphone. Try shutting down these devices at least an hour before you go to bed, and avoid leaving them on at night.
Pets
We all love our pets, and most of us allow them to sleep with us at night. However, they don't always stay asleep. If you have a pet that gets up in the middle of the night, moving around on the bed and waking you up, you might consider setting up their own pet bed in the room, or another room if it becomes distracting on a regular basis.
Keep Your Bedroom Clean
I'm probably hitting on a touchy subject; keeping your bedroom clean and your bed made up. Not everyone does this, including myself. Guilty. However, it could make a big difference in getting a restful night's sleep. It sounds more of a psychological thing. I mean, I could sleep just about anywhere, but for some folks, a neat and tidy bed and bedroom actually helps them achieve better sleep. It's worth a try.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Taylors, S.C.