The quality of your sleep plays a huge part in many different aspects of your health and wellbeing. Not only does how you sleep impact your energy levels and how you feel throughout the day, but it can also have an effect on your weight, mental health, mood, heart health, and much more. Improving the quality of your sleep is one great way to see improvements in all these other parts of your life. The good news is that there are several simple steps that you can put in place on a nightly basis to sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed. Here are some of the most crucial steps to take when it comes to getting better sleep at night.
ⓘ Disclaimer: The following article is for knowledge purposes only. You must consult your doctor or healthcare provider
Breathe Easier
If you snore when you are sleeping at night, breathe through your mouth, or are often sleeping with a stuffy nose, then you will know how frustrating it can be. Not only can these issues keep you up at night, but they can also lead to interrupted sleep or waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, which is never a nice start to your day. The good news is that there are several things that you can do to breathe easier at night. Consider trying nasal strips to help you stop snoring and moving over to sleep on your side. You can also use an air purifier in your room to clean the air and make breathing easier at night.
Avoid Food and Drinks That Interfere with Sleep
What you eat or drink can have an impact on how you sleep, so it is good to know what is going to have an effect on your sleep quality and avoid it before bed. Ideally, for at least three hours before your bedtime, you should avoid anything containing caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you up at night and even lead to insomnia if you have too much of it. Alcohol might make you feel sleepier if you drink a lot, but it can also impact the quality of your sleep, causing you to miss out on valuable REM sleep.
Create the Right Environment
Consider what your bedroom environment is like and if it is offering a good place to get great quality sleep. If your bedroom is too light, not the right temperature, or cluttered with lots of different things then you might find it harder to sleep. Décor also plays a part as some colours like red or orange can be quite stimulating, which won’t help you sleep either. Spend some time creating a bedroom that helps you sleep by being dark, the right temperature, and decorated in calming colours.
Get a Good Mattress
A mattress is an important piece of furniture to invest in because you are sleeping on it every night. If your mattress is not the right fit for you then you are going to experience a higher risk of sleep problems, including struggling to get to sleep because you cannot get comfortable in bed, or waking up in the night due to aches and pains caused by a mattress that isn’t offering you much support. The type of mattress that is best for you will depend on several factors including your weight and whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side, or front. Front sleepers will sleep better on a softer mattress, while firmer options are better if you sleep on your back or side.
Getting enough sleep at night has a positive impact on many aspects of your health and life. Consider putting these strategies in place to improve your sleep.
