1. Health
We know that your sleep is affected by poor health, whether it be mental or physical health. Mental health problems like depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand with an inconsistent sleep schedule. If you aren’t getting the amount of sleep your body needs to function throughout the day, these feelings of mental strain may be enhanced. Keeping your body sharp means keeping your mind sharp, and the best way to do so is getting plenty of shuteye.
If you have any serious health concerns, get assistance diagnosing physical symptoms as well as any worries that might be keeping you up at night.
2. Environment
Your environment is everything especially when it comes to sleep. Where you sleep is just as important as the bed you rest your eyes on. Watching TV, playing video games, spending too much time in front of smart devices, and even eating in bed can all affect the quality of your sleep.
Temperature, noise, and light are some of the key factors that determine our sleep. If your bedroom is too warm, your kids are up screaming, and your reading light is too bright, you may find yourself experiencing poor slumber. If you constantly wake up feeling groggy and lethargic, keep a sleep journal to record your habits and see if you notice any patterns that can help identify a problem.
3. Attitude
The best sleep is when we’re able to get tucked into bed and completely clear our mind of all stresses and worries. It’s normal to lie awake and worry from time to time, but it’s important to wind down and relax in the hours leading up to bedtime. With the many distractions of the digital world, it can be hard to let go of all our concerns, but finding relation techniques like taking a warm bath or doing 30-minutes of yoga can help.
If you constantly have trouble sleeping, try to remember to avoid distractions, especially in the middle of the night. It can be tempting, but don’t look at the clock, don’t turn on the light, and don’t turn on the TV. This will only stimulate your mind even further and make it that much harder to count your sheep.
4. Lifestyle
Your diet and activity can drastically affect your sleep. If you’re reliant on caffeine to function during the day, you might have difficulty kicking that energy buzz at night. Heavy or sugary meals close to bedtime can make sleep uncomfortable when your body is too full.
You might think a swig of grandpa’s old cough medicine will help you relax, but alcohol also reduces the quality of sleep as it doesn’t allow your body to unwind naturally.
Instead, exercise is the best natural sleep aid if done early enough in the day. The adrenaline that is released during exercise helps your body feel tired so you can nod off on your own to sleep naturally and deeply through the night.
Start your new year off on the right side of the bed and improve your quality of sleep. If you need help finding the right mattress to improve your sleep or if you’re looking for sleep tips and advice, visit us today to shop our wide selection of mattresses and accessories. Our expert staff will be happy to guide you along and answer any questions you may have.