If there is any one thing that you should spend a little money on, it’s your bedroom, specifically your bed. In this day and age where it is not uncommon to work more than 40 hours a week and still have other miscellaneous things to tend to (i.e. family, social events, etc.), it is no wonder that people are having trouble getting to sleep and/or having trouble staying awake throughout the day. Keeping that in mind, here are some helpful tips for making sure you are getting enough quality sleep!

5 Suggestions for a Restful Night

1. Don’t Nap! If you are experiencing problems with getting to sleep at night, part of the problem could be the result of having napped earlier in the day. When you take little “cat naps,” you are actually throwing your internal clock off so that it will then be more difficult to fall asleep at night.
2. Skip the Coffee! When you are trying to relax and go to bed at night, the last thing you would want to have in your system is coffee. Coffee, even if it is decaffeinated, has caffeine in it, which can keep you awake and interrupt your sleeping patterns.
3. Size Matters! If you share a bed with someone else, make sure that your bed is big enough. If you are sleeping with a restless partner, then their restlessness can keep you awake. Try switching to a bigger bed. Also, make sure that the sheets and pillows are made out of a material that is comfortable to you.
4. Comfort Zone! Your bedroom should be a sanctuary. Avoid doing homework or work in your bedroom, especially on your bed. The only thing that your bed should be for is sleeping, not work! Also, make sure that your bedroom is quiet and that it is well ventilated and not too hot or too cold. At night, make sure that there is no light coming into the room. It is recommended that you turn off the television and put any sort of bright clocks in a place where it won’t shine light in your face. Light sources can disturb your sleep at night.
5. Don’t Eat! Try not to eat anything right before going to bed. Eating before you go to bed can cause indigestion and will interfere with your sleeping cycle. Also, avoid drinking too many liquids before going to bed, otherwise it will cause you to get up in the middle of the night to urinate. Ideally, you should aim to eat your dinner between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. If you go to bed at odd hours, try to make sure that you eat your dinner at least two hours before you lay down.

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Tags: Health, Healthy Living, Stress //