How You Can Sleep Better
By Sara Butler
Sleep is important. It’s so important, the average person will sleep for 9125 days of their lives – that’s a lot of time sleeping! So, it should go without saying that good quality sleep should be a priority in your life. Yet, for many people, sleep is elusive, especially good quality sleep. If you’re not getting enough sleep at night and you wake up feeling groggy and unrested, here are a few tips from the chiropractors at The Joint that can help.
Why Sleep is So Important
Sleep plays a very important role in physical health. Sleep gives the body time to repair and heal every system in the body. Take the cardiovascular system; when you sleep at night, your heart and blood vessels repair from the day. When you have an ongoing sleep deficiency, it can increase your chance of developing high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes. All because you aren’t getting good quality sleep at night!
Strategies for Better Sleep
If you are looking to improve your sleep quality at night, then you should:
- Schedule it – Set a time for going to sleep and waking up, then stick to it even on the weekends.
- Exercise – During the day, get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise - just don’t do it too close to bedtime.
- Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol – Before bed, avoid these brain stimulating substances.
- Relax – Before your bedtime, take a warm bath, read, or do some relaxation exercises to put you in the right frame of mind for bed.
- Follow the sun – Try to wake up with the sun, or in the winter turn on very bright lights in the morning. This will help your body to regulate its internal clock, helping you to fall asleep better at night too.
- Room temperature – The ideal temperature to sleep at night is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your bedroom at this temperature will help you stay asleep at night and rest comfortably.
A Few Other Lifestyle Tips
You can also get better quality sleep at night if you:
- Keep noise and light now
- Avoid naps during the day
- Avoid mentally stimulating tasks in the hour before bed
- Avoid emotional thoughts or discussions before bed
This list could go on, but the important thing to remember is that if you’re struggling with sleep at night, you should consult a healthcare professional such as a chiropractor. The doctors of chiropractic at The Joint have a lot of experience helping patients to find better quality sleep, so don’t delay if you’re having an issue.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.