All living things sleep. Research shows that sleep is essential for overall health. So whether you are having a stressful day, you need to sleep well to be healthy. Some workaholics may disagree but we know that the body has a way of telling us it is had enough and needs quality sleep. Your sleeping pattern is visible in your lifestyle patterns and health status. If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, the following hacks would work for you:
1. Develop a bedtime ritual
This is a good way to prep your body and your mind for sleep. A bedtime ritual signals to your body that it’s time to go to bed. Also try things like taking a relaxing bath, drinking a cup of herbal tea, listening to relaxing music, meditating, or even diffusing a relaxing essential oil in your room.
2. Check your mattress
Things like excessive tossing and turning at night and increased stress during the day could mean it is time to get a new mattress. The issue of mattresses being too soft or too firm suggests that you try your mattress for at least 20 minutes prior to purchasing. Sleep experts recommend you try out memory foam mattress options as these will typically provide a comfortable mix of firm and soft for most buyers.
3. Avoid using your smartphone
Studies continue to show that using your smartphone before bedtime can hinder the quality of your sleep. If you tend to look at your smartphone in bed before attempting to fall asleep, try placing it across the room before you get into bed at night. If you’re like most of us who use your phone as your alarm clock, placing your phone across the room could also be a way to help you get out of bed when your alarm goes off in the morning.
4. Exercise regularly
The benefits of exercise cannot be overemphasised. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. This will help your body run off some of its excess energy before you go to bed and will also contribute to your overall health and well-being which will help your body maintain regularity in important functions like sleep.
5. Stick to a schedule
Believe it or not, humans are creatures of habit. This means that we work best with schedules. According to the Sleep Foundation, if you’re having trouble sleeping, a lack of routine could be the issue. Try to set a time to get to bed each night. If you have decided to start a bedtime routine as suggested in tip number one, try setting that to start on a specific schedule as well.