Many of us do not fully understand the impact sleep has on our health. Sleep deprivation has negative effects on aging, immune system function, metabolism, reaction time, memory, and much more.
Below are some quick and easy tips to begin improving your quality of sleep
- Avoid large meals or alcohol close to bedtime. Alcohol affects your brain chemistry and it’s common for people to actually wake up as the alcohol is metabolized through the body.
- Avoid caffeine after noon.
- Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Creating a set routine for sleep will have a very positive impact on your sleep habits.
- If you can’t get to sleep after 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing, like reading or meditation. Watching TV is not a great option as the artificial light from electronics tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime.
- Exercise each day, but not too close to bedtime because it may make you more energized instead of calm.
- Sleep in a cool, dark room.
Research has revealed that sleep is one of the basic building blocks of good health. Although we live in a society where trading sleep time for getting more things done in a day is often the norm, the truth is that our brains and bodies require adequate amounts of good quality sleep to stay healthy. Learn what’s happening to your body and brain while you sleep. Learn what you are doing each day and night that is contributing to keeping you awake and create a plan to work with, not against your body’s ability to get a better night’s sleep.
7 comments
I appreciate the work that you have put in this page. Really good, Thanks for sharing information…:)
I agree with everything Sheryl writes. Plus, most people forget that your bed is the most important piece of furniture in your home. You use it more than anything else and your sleep affects your day. I brought Hastens and VI Spring to Chicago to teach people that the right bed for you can make a difference in how you sleep. Not everyone should be in the same type of bed or the same tension, different sizes, weights, back problems, all require a different bed. James Maas of Cornell Univeristy wrote, “Sleep is the number one deteriment to a long a healthy life, more than diet and exercise.”
These tips are great. Keep them coming.
Well, I’ve tried the blue light which you coordinate with your breathing, crystal sound therapy, bed of nails, yoga, meditation, etc. and still can’t sleep.