Put Sleep First This Year

As crazy as it may seem, we are about to head into a new decade. 2020 is right around the corner, and people everywhere are making resolutions on how they can better themselves in the new year. Most people focus on improving their health, whether it be mental, physical, spiritual, or a combination of all three. A great place to start when thinking about improving your health is to improve your sleep. Since you spend about a third of your life sleeping, it’s important to make sure you are getting adequate sleep every night. Here are a few tips to make sure you are getting better sleep in the new year:

Clear you mind

If you are someone who has trouble falling asleep, or regularly waking up in the middle of the night, you are absolutely not alone. Many people have problems with stress, worry or anxiety from the day affecting the quality of sleep you are getting. In order to try and manage your stress, there are a few things you can do. Focus on developing a nighttime ritual that you stick to. This could involve taking a long bath, doing breathing exercises or mediation, reading a book before bed, or listening to relaxing music. Remember to put electronics down at least 30 minutes before you go to bed and get in the mindset of winding you mind down.

Get moving during the day

Not only will physical activity help you to sleep better at night, it can also improve your overall physical health. Those that exercise regularly tend to feel sleepier at night and have more energy during the day. Even just 30 minutes a day to get your heart rate up can improve the quality of your sleep if done on a consistent basis.

Sleep Environment

Make sure the environment you’re sleeping in is up to par. Your sleep environment has a huge impact on the quality of sleep you’re getting every night, so why not make sure it’s the right fit for you. A room that is cool, quiet and comfortable hits all the important bases to making sure your sleep environment is sufficient. Start with the right mattress, pillows and bedding that will ensure you are sleeping comfortably. Try to block out any intruding light by making sure all lights are off when it’s time for bed, or closing all blinds so no outside light can disturb you.

Sources:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/getting-better-sleep.htm/