Sleep deprivation has been linked to numerous health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. A lot of doctors are saying that getting enough sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise. However, many people still don’t prioritise sleep as highly as they should. If you’re curious to know how to get a better night’s sleep, follow these simple steps.
Limit Screen Time
If your usual bedtime routine is to reach for your phone and scroll through social media, STOP! The blue light from your screen will disrupt your body clock and make you think it’s the middle of the day. This makes it much more difficult to fall asleep. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, try reading a book or getting a glass of water, but never reach for your phone to pass the time.
Upgrade Your Bedroom
Think about how well you sleep when you’re staying in a hotel. This is because there’s no clutter, you have blackout blinds and the bed is sublimely comfortable. Try to replicate this in your own home by clearing out the clutter, installing some blackout blinds and upgrading your bed. To get that hotel room feeling, try investing in a high-quality bed like a bed from this luxury bed company (theluxurybedco.com). Add a luxury duvet and some crisp white sheets and you’ll feel like you’re in a luxury hotel every night.
Develop a Routine
Remember when you were a kid and you had a bedtime routine? There’s no reason you shouldn’t bring this back as an adult. Your bedtime routine might include meditation, taking a shower, drinking a herbal tea and reading. Whatever makes you feel relaxed at night, work this into your routine and you’ll soon be getting quality sleep every night. Going to bed and getting out of bed the same time is hugely beneficial as it respects your body clock.
Don’t Exercise Right Before Bed
While it might seem like the only time you can squeeze in a workout, exercising right before bed can mess with your body clock. Exercise boosts your metabolism, speeds up your heart and increases cortisol levels in your blood. These are all great if they happen during the day, but can disrupt your sleep patterns if you exercise at night. If you are struggling to sleep, light exercise during the day can help you to drift off at night, you just need to make sure you aren’t exercising right before bed.
