Go to sleep!
March 15, 2017
Get some sleep!
March is National Sleep Awareness Month. As an adult, how often do you wish someone would tell you to go to sleep — forget the dishes, the laundry, the bills you need to pay, your children’s homework or schedules? Instead, go to sleep!
Sleeping well is critical to your overall health and wellbeing. The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Although having a nutritious diet and an established exercise regime is important, your efforts may be fruitless without a healthy sleep routine to balance it all out.
Are you struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Here are some tips to help you get the sleep you need:
- Have a consistent daily sleep schedule and go to bed at the same time. Relax for an hour before going to sleep and eliminate exposure to electronic devices as well as television.
- Exercise regularly, but not within three hours of bedtime, and avoid eating a large meal prior to hitting the hay.
- Find a comfortable room temperature and lighting level. Be sure to decrease light exposure in your home prior to getting ready to bed.
- Reduce or eliminate caffeine. Drinking tea, coffee, soda or other liquid that contains caffeine in the late afternoon may prevent sleep. It can take as long as 6-8 hours for the effects to wear off completely.
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Although alcohol is a sedative that makes it easier to fall asleep, it prevents deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, allowing only the lighter stages of sleep.
- Keep a journal. If a problem is bothering you, write it down and ignore it until the next day.
