Introduction to sleep
If you’ve been wondering how sleep is measured and how you can get better sleep, read on.
In a nutshell: Sleeping too little, not enough, and all the in between is part of the daily cycle of biological awakening, sleep, wakefulness, and sleep-inability. It’s how your body is able to regenerate and rest.
Many of us have forgotten how to get the most out of our sleep. We can get caught in a vicious cycle of habitual, physiological and psychological systems that interfere with our ability to get the rest we need.
Too little sleep is especially damaging and has been linked with numerous health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, obesity, depression, and even high blood pressure.
HEALTHY HABITS FOR BETTER SLEEP
Not sure what to do to change the sleep situation in your home? It’s easier than you might think to sleep better at night. Here are nine simple, affordable habits to get you on the right track.
Minimize Chilling
Sometimes your mind, body, and energy need a chance to get their bearings before you actually get any sleep. If you’re jet lagged, heading out for a long business trip, or even on vacation, the best way to pass time is to keep busy. The worst thing to do is have your laptop in your lap (or tablet) because that can block out the natural sunlight and lower your body temperature.
Staying active during the day will also help you avoid a restless night. But the easiest way to minimize chilling is by using a white noise machine.
Sleep Hygiene
Keep Your Bedroom Quiet: Obviously, if you sleep with someone else, you need to be careful about waking them up during the night. Generally speaking, the goal is to not make any noise at all when you sleep. When you do move around during the night, be quiet and softly.
What’s Keeping You Awake?
There are many factors that can keep you awake. Sleep disorders and excessive stress can be culprits, but it’s not just what’s going on in your life that can keep you from sleep. When there’s a lack of essential physical and mental health factors, your sleep quality can suffer. For instance, if you struggle with poor circulation, if you have a heart condition, or if you are sick, there’s a higher likelihood that your sleep quality will suffer as well.
What Causes Bad Sleep?
It’s not always easy to pinpoint the factors that directly contribute to poor sleep quality. With some, there is no direct cause; while others can be classified as lifestyle, psychological, or biological. The most common, and largest factor is simply a “lack of sleep,” or insufficient sleep. You have no excuse for your lack of sleep. This guide will help you and your partner, too. Get a lot more sleep by improving your sleep hygiene and getting a good night’s rest.
Above are some of the top tips for better sleep that I’ve found in my sleep research and experimentations. This information is very practical and simple to follow. It works for me and I’m sure it will work for you as well.
