How to Sleep Better

1. Think of getting enough sleep as medicine.

We are all very busy and may wish we had more hours in the day to get things done. Going to bed late and getting up early is a dangerous habit that can lead to sleep deprivation and more serious issues. We need to make sleep a priority and think of it as medicine. Without it, we get sick.

2. Stick to a consistent wake time.

It’s nice to sleep in on weekends and days off but waking up at the same time every day will help you sleep better at night. A fixed wake time helps our bodies regulate and enhance our sleep drive. When we sleep in, our bodies internal schedule can disrupted and make us go to bed later than usual; making it more difficult to get up early the next day.

3. Avoid smart devices before bedtime.

It’s recommended to put away all electronic devices like smartphones and tablets at least one hour before bedtime. These devices keep our minds humming and don’t help us reach the relaxed states that we need to achieve for a restful night’s sleep.

4. Don’t look at the clock.

It’s normal for some people to wake up in the middle of the night. Especially those struggling with sleep issues. Sleep expert, Dr. Michelle Drerup, says it’s better not to look at the clock if we do wake up in the middle of the night. It sounds simple but looking at the clock is not as simple as just telling time. We start making calculations about how much time we have left to sleep and rest and maybe start thinking about the things we must do in the morning. Before we know it, we have wasted precious minutes of sleeping thinking about all these things.

5. Downtime.

Making time for downtime can significantly improve the quality of our sleep. Sleep is so far down in some people’s list of priorities that many of us are not getting enough of it because there are so many other things that we want to do. We must prioritize sleep and make some time before bedtime to relax and get our bodies ready for sleep.

Having a good night’s sleep and sleeping enough can make a huge difference in our day to day. When we are rested, we are more alert, more efficient, and happier overall. Sleep helps your body physically and emotionally. Let’s make sleep a priority, starting today!

Click here to read about what happens to our bodies when we don’t get enough sleep.