Tips For Healthier Sleep Habits

Find Time To Relax

Scientists attribute stress to most of the sleeping disorders around the world. I usually relieve stress by reading a novel, taking a warm bath, or listening to soft music before going to bed. Moreover, I could write a to-do list before going to bed to free my mind of worrying about tomorrows list of things to do.

Develop A Sleep Routine

Having a regular sleeping and waking time contribute to healthy sleep. In the past, I could watch a movie till late in the night before going to bed. This was the primary cause of the sleeping problems. Nowadays, I sleep at 10 p.m. and wake up at 5 a.m. every day. I recommend finding a time that works best for you and stick to it.

Avoid Electronic Gadgets

Smartphones, TVs, computers and other electronic gadgets are known to interfere with sleep quality. They have bright screens and radio waves that make sleep very difficult. The blue light from these devices suppresses a sleep hormone known as melatonin. Therefore, it is best practice to stop using the electronic devices at least one hour before sleep. Nowadays, I get a peaceful sleep after adopting a routine of switching off technology gadgets by 9 p.m.

Make Your Bedroom Comfortable

Equip your bedroom with comfortable bedding and temperature control systems. Studies have shown that bedrooms with pale colors can contribute to better sleep. Additionally, pleasant smells such as geranium and lavender provide a soothing setting for sleep.

Don't Stay Awake Watching The Clock

In the past, I had a habit of watching the clock regularly in the night. This causes a lot of anxiety that can hamper your sleep. The remedy is to focus on calm thoughts rather than turning around to look at the clock after every few minutes. When I need an alarm, I usually turn the clock around to prevent seeing the time.

Foods For Sleep

Studies show that healthy foods improve sleep significantly. Foods that are beneficial for healthy sleep include chicken, milk, pumpkin seeds and turkey. These foods contain chemicals known as serotonin and tryptophan. These chemicals stimulate the release of melatonin, which promotes sleep. Moreover, I am always keen on eating a well-balanced diet with lots of veggies and fruits.

Avoid Certain Foods

Poor sleep can creep up if you consume alcohol, spicy foods, and large meals a few hours before bedtime. Also, coffee late in the afternoon affects sleep. In this case, I usually take caffeinated drinks early in the day to avoid interfering with the night sleep. Also, I avoid sugary foods before going to bed. Sugars found in these foods lead to energy spikes that can hamper your sleep. Studies have shown that people who have problems sleeping tend to eat junk foods the day prior. This habit creates a cycle of bad diet and poor sleep, so you should avoid sugary foods at all cost.

Switch Off Lights

I have also found that darkness promotes good sleep. People sleep when it is dark and wake up in the morning when the sun rises. Alternatively, I use dimmer lights to reduce the light intensity in the bedroom. Therefore, you should also consider buying inexpensive lamps that come with a dimmer switch. Also, I recommend considering the use of heavy curtains if street lights penetrate your bedroom. I live near the street, so I invested in blackout blinds to prevent street lights from entering my bedroom.

Keeping Fit Helps With Sleep Quality

A great way to keep fit is by engaging in physical activities. Exercise boosts not only your sleep, but also your body health. I usually engage in a 30-minute workout daily, and the benefits are amazing. Some individuals find it hard to sleep if they engage in physical activity a few hours before bedtime. Overall, you will get better sleep if you exercise daily.

Spend The Right Time In Bed

To get a good sleep every night you should aim to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep consistently on a daily basis. However, the number of hours varies greatly depending on an individual. Everyone's phenotype is different, but typically spending more than nine hours in bed can lead to a poor sleeping habit for the average person. I usually sleep for about seven hours and have found it helpful. People who take hours to fall asleep may go to bed later to avoid spending as much time in bed.

Focus On The Sleep Quality

Many people focus on the amount of time spent sleeping rather than the sleep quality they are receiving. Research shows that there are five stages of sleep, each with its significance. In short summary, there are iterative phases before reaching deep sleep. So even disruptions like getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of your sleep can make you fail to complete all stages. In this case, you should avoid taking too much liquid just before bedtime and regulating the timing of when you eat dinner. To help with sleep quality, it helps to have a nice pillow that can keep the heat down and comfort levels high. Check out our guide to Best Cooling Mattress Pad to see our mattress pad breakdowns or Best Pillow For Stomach Sleepers to see our pillow breakdowns.

Conclusion

Many people around the world have sleep-related problems. It leads to poor health and low productivity in the workplace. Most of the people fail to get healthy sleep because of the poor lifestyle habits. I had a sleeping problem in the past until I decided to change my sleep habits. 

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Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Sources

Https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips

Https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/getting-better-sleep.htm

Https://www.theodysseyonline.com/11-tips-healthier-sleep-habits