12 Tips to Get the Best Sleep
Sleep is the Holy Grail of health because it allows us to function at our highest levels not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Each night, a healthy adult should aim to get between seven and eight hours of sleep.
To achieve a good night’s sleep, one must be aware of the activities that promote restful sleep as well as those that disrupt it, in addition to being aware of the importance of getting enough sleep.
In this post, I will provide you with a dozen helpful suggestions that will allow you to improve the quality of sleep that you obtain each night. These suggestions have been arranged in a manner that is somewhat hierarchical so that the first tips will probably provide you with the greatest advantage and may be the easiest to put into practice.
1. Maintain a consistent sleeping routine
Habit is something that comes naturally to humans. Even if it’s the weekend, your birthday, or Christmas, sticking to the same schedule for going to bed and getting up every day is one of the most effective habits you can develop to ensure that you get a sufficient amount of restful sleep.
You may train your body to recognize when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake up in this way, which will allow your body to begin performing the work for you so that you can get more rest.
When your body knows when you go to bed and when you wake up, all of its biochemical processes will be perfectly tuned to fit your schedule. Chemicals that put you to sleep will be released in the evening, which will make you feel sleepy; on the other hand, chemicals that get you ready for the day will be released in the morning.
2. Relax before bedtime
Unfortunately, we humans do not have ON/OFF switches, and at the end of the day, we require some downtime to prepare for sleep and wind down from the day. Set aside at least one to two hours for relaxation before going to bed and develop your own ideal evening routine.
This could include activities such as meditation, writing, painting, slow walking, reading, slow yoga or stretching, hot baths, or spending time with the people you care about.
3. Take use of the morning sun
When you first open your eyes in the morning, you have the opportunity to realign the biological clock that is housed inside of you. The strongest indicator to our brains that we have successfully completed the process of waking up and that it is now time to begin the day is the presence of light.
The brain and the body will do the work for you then, coordinating all of your biochemical processes to take place in accordance with your agenda and “on time.”
Within the first hour of waking up, you should try to expose yourself to the sun for at least 15 minutes. Because our eyes, which are responsible for sending messages about the light conditions to our brain, are less sensitive to light in the morning, we require a source of light with high intensity, such as sunshine, in order for the signal to be received. Just keep in mind that you should never look directly at the sun.
4. Enjoy the nighttime shadows
Because light is the cue that tells our brain that the day has begun, we should steer clear of bright light in the evening so that we do not cause our brains to become confused about whether or not it is day or night.
Because our eyes are more sensitive to light in the evening than they are in the morning, we should avoid exposure to even light of a moderate intensity so that we do not inadvertently transmit “wake-up” signals to our brains.
Remove yourself from bright lights and screens at least a few hours before going to bed, install night filters with a red shift on your electronic devices, and make sure to use dim lighting if you have to get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night.
5. Bedrooms should be dark, quiet, and cool (around 18oC)
Our sleep is disrupted by sudden, unanticipated sounds and light (even light coming from the streets! ), and we may be roused from our sleep by them. To get a better night’s rest despite the disruptions caused by noise and light pollution, try wearing ear plugs, eye masks, or drapes that filter out the light.
Because our bodies must first begin to cool down before we can enter a deep stage of sleep, it is extremely difficult to fall or stay asleep when the temperature is too high. Before going to bed, let some fresh air into the bedroom and make sure the temperature is around 18 degrees.
6. Create a slumber sanctuary
Our brain is capable of making connections relatively rapidly. Because of this, it is essential that your brain only associates the bedroom and the bed with the activities of resting and sleeping. Do not use your computer in your bedroom, and you should also avoid working or stressing out there; instead, wait until you are ready to sleep before entering your bedroom.
In this way, your brain will identify your bedroom with sleep, and it will help you become tired whenever you enter your bedroom at night. This association will help you get a better night’s sleep.
7. Do not stay in bed if you are unable to sleep
If you are having trouble sleeping and are beginning to feel nervous about it, get out of bed and move to a different room where you may do something dull until you are able to fall asleep again. This is for the same reason that our brains are so good at quickly making connections. The purpose of this is to prevent your brain from associating your bed with feelings of anxiety and the dread that you will not be able to sleep.
8. Maintain daily physical activity
Your ability to fall asleep and remain asleep throughout the night may be improved by engaging in physical exercise since it raises your sleep pressure.
9. Keep dinner light and digest before bed
Your nightly sleep will be disrupted if you eat a heavy meal close to the time you normally go to bed since your body will have to work to digest the food rather than sleep. It is advisable to have a dinner that is on the lighter side at least three hours before going to bed.
10. Avoid caffeine 8 to 12 hours before bed.
Caffeine causes sleep disruptions, increases the number of times we wake up during the night, and lowers the overall quality of our slumber. Caffeine lingers in our systems for an extremely long duration, on average between 8 and 12 hours, which is a fact that is not often understood. Because of this, the last dose of caffeine should be consumed between 8 and 12 hours before going to bed.
11. Avoid using tobacco and alcohol. 3–4 hours before bed
Both drinking alcohol and smoking nicotine can have a negative impact on the quality of sleep you get. Nicotine is a stimulant, and because of this, it may make it more difficult to fall asleep. Many individuals mistakenly believe that drinking alcohol will assist them in drifting off to sleep more quickly.
There is no evidence to suggest that alcohol can shorten the amount of time it takes to fall asleep; however, there is a significant amount of evidence to suggest that alcohol can reduce the quality of your sleep and severely impair your REM sleep. REM sleep is essential for your mental and emotional health, as well as for many other processes in your body.
12. Not to worry
Since we are all human, indulging in a late meal or watching a movie in bed one or a few evenings won’t do you any harm. Just make getting adequate rest your top priority over the next few nights.
First things first, keep in mind that you should begin slowly and with a limited scope, but be persistent. Adjustments should be made gradually, micro goals should be attainable, and your sleep hygiene routine should be built up so that it naturally fits into your life.
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