Reading Time: 3 minutes Tips and Tricks For Improving Sleep
This is health post by Ashley.
There is no doubting how important sleep is to our lives. It helps our brain work better, helps us be more productive at work, and even helps out immune system functionality. Sleep can also help reduce our risk for diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a positive relationship with sleep. Despite how important it is to our lives, many people struggle to get quality sleep. There are countless reasons for this, but they all result in a person being tired, irritable, and unable to perform their best.
Thankfully, there are some ways to improve your relationship with sleep and start waking up more well-rested in the morning, and this article is going to go over a few of them.
Get a Better Bed
Perhaps the best way to completely overhaul how well you sleep is by upgrading your bed and mattress. A new mattress that is both comfortable and supportive can make a world of difference in your sleep quality. There are memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses, innerspring, and several other options out there on the market.
Be sure to think about your sleeping position when choosing a mattress. Those who sleep on their sides may need a softer mattress, while stomach sleepers will often enjoy the experience of a more supportive mattress. Of course, when deciding on which bed to buy, you need to think about price and size, as well.
Also consider How to Clean a Mattress: The Ultimate Guide to Mattress Stain Removal
Keep Your Sleep Schedule Consistent
While many may think they can simply go to bed and wake up any time they want and get good sleep, this isn’t actually the case. This is because of your circadian rhythm. These are 24-hour cycles in our body, and the one that impacts sleep is the sleep/wake cycle.
This cycle works in tandem with our internal clock, which is influenced by things like light and sound. If you are constantly sleeping and waking at strange times, it can be incredibly confusing for your body, and it will not know when it should be preparing you for sleep or when it should be energizing you for the day ahead.
As a result, try to keep your sleep relatively consistent, by waking up and going to bed around the same time. It may be difficult to force yourself into a consistent sleeping schedule, but as your body adapts, it will become much easier and you will certainly see an improvement in your sleep.
Watch What You Eat and Drink
The food and beverages you consume can also have an impact on how well you sleep. While coffee is the common culprit that everyone thinks about, it isn’t the only thing you should avoid before bed.
You also want to watch out for spicy foods or foods that are overly heavy. Too much protein before bed generally isn’t good, either.
These can make you uncomfortable, or make it hard for your body to naturally prepare itself for sleep. As for what you should eat and drink before bed, you usually want to keep it light. Something healthy and mild is generally the best choice.
Of course, the best option is to not eat for the last few hours before going to sleep.
In conclusion, these tips are sure to improve your relationship with sleep and ensure you can get a more restful slumber for a better and more productive life.
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.