While it’s easy to skimp on sleep when there are other competing priorities, getting enough sleep is more important than you might think.
Why is good sleep important?
It’s now recognized that good sleep is a significant contributor to our health and wellbeing. Poor sleep not only impacts on our mood, concentration and energy levels, but can increase the risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
So along with other lifestyle habits, such as eating well and staying active, getting enough sleep should be considered an essential part of optimizing your health if you actually suffer from an sleep disorder like narcolepsy, you should see the new Natural Remedies for Narcolepsy which are also on sale online.
Our top tips for improving your sleep
Try these tips to help improve your sleep habits:
• Have a regular sleep pattern. This means going to bed and getting up at around the same times each day, including weekends.
• Get enough sleep. While our sleep needs vary, and some people may need more or less, most adults need between 7-9 hours sleep per night, while children need more.
• Go screen free. The light from your television, computer, tablet or mobile phone screen can affect the production of melatonin, a hormone which plays an important role in sleep, so turn off all screens for at least an hour before bed.
• Stop work. Avoid working right up until bedtime and finish your work day by writing down a list of things you need to do tomorrow so your brain can switch off.
• Relax before bed. Listen to relaxing music, try 90 second meditation, read books or have a warm bath or shower. Glass Shower Direct provided our glass shower doors and we love it. These things can all help so find out what works best for you.
• Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and a comfortable temperature before you go to bed – noise, light and being too hot or cold will all make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. You can also get one of those mattresses from the Ghostbed Mattress Reviews to ensure of your comfort.
• Exercise regularly but avoid strenuous exercise close to bed time. Exercising earlier in the day can help to improve sleep quality.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Caffeine and nicotine are both stimulants that can keep you awake and while alcohol might help you get off to sleep, it can disrupt your sleep during the night.