Sleep is one of the most important things in your life. Throughout your lifetime, you will spend literal years sleeping. This is important because sleep is when your body restores itself, the brain deals with everything, and you even work through some of your problems in your dreams (even if you don’t remember them.) If you get enough sleep, you’ll also be able to handle the stresses of everyday life better, and be healthier.
What You’ll Need:
Learn what you do before bed
Learn about your naps
Soft music
Cool temperatures
1. Know what You do Before Bed
Look at what you do before you go to bed. If you lie awake watching TV, this will not help you get a quality night’s sleep. You’re more likely to stay up longer, and less likely to be as relaxed as you need to be for quality sleep. Make sure that things like the TV, computer, and other electronics are out of the bedroom. Do relaxing things like reading or listening to soft music instead.
2. Have a Schedule
Put yourself on a schedule. Go to sleep around the same time every night and get up around the same time every day. This will help you to get a better quality sleep because you will be ready to get up or sleep when it’s time. You don’t have to get up at 10 AM on the dot every single day, but do try to keep it around 10, just for example.
3. Pay attention to Naps
While it is fine to take one or two short naps during the day, if you find yourself having to take a nap very often, then you probably are not getting a quality night’s sleep. Try and keep a record of when you’re napping – is it just in the mid afternoon? Or do you nap almost every two hours? More sleep at night will lead to you napping less in the daytime and being more productive.
4. Cool it down.
Keep your bedroom cool. Most people sleep much better in cooler temperatures. 68 degrees should be just about perfect. If you like it cooler than go ahead – that’s what blankets are for!
5. Setup a Bedtime Ritual
Make sure you setup a bedtime ritual. This will help you focus on sleeping. Pray, read, meditate, or just watch something on TV to relax yourself before you go to bed. Do the same thing nightly. Just find something that works for you, will relax you, and helps you feel sleepy. Your sleep quality will improve if you go to sleep relaxed.
April 26th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Hi, thanks for such great info . I have really enjoyed this blog and will be back!!