Tips to Better Sleep
While many consider physical activity and nutrition to be the two-headed dragon when it comes to peak health and performance, we tend to forget about the third - sleep.
A quality sleeping regimen is of the utmost important, if not more important than consistent exercise and proper nutrition. Without a good night’s rest, you immediately increase the risks of experiencing negative side-effects like poor-performance, slower cognition, mood swings, hormone fluctuation, weight gain, depression, and more!
An improved sleeping regimen can provide immediate benefits.
In today's digital age, workaholics and the “grind-life” are often put on a pedestal. However, this attitude can lead to poor sleep cycles, lack of rest and recovery, and, ultimately - burnout. Instead, we need to flip the switch on what is truly important so that we can tackle life with a new vengeance.
In general, 7-8 hours of sleep ever night is the gold standard for optimal immune function and health, but that actual amount my vary depending on age. Check on the chart below to find out how much sleep you should be getting.
Benefits of Quality Sleep
Some of the benefits of a proper sleeping regimen are:
Reduced stress
Improved mood
Improved performance
Weight maintenance
Improved brain function
Improved mood
Lower health/blood markers
Stronger Immunity
Lower Risk of chronic disease
As you can tell, this list could be quite lengthy. Above are just a few of the more prominent benefits that we’ve come to understand.
So, how can one improve their sleep? Great question! Below, we’ll offer some helpful tips that you can implement into your daily/nightly routines immediately! Let’s get into it.
Tips to Better Sleep
While we won’t go into detail on every tip, below is a list of tips that you can begin to consider and, hopefully, implement:
Reduce light exposure before bedtime (especially blue light, emitted by digital devices)
Avoid overconsumption of caffeine during the day (and avoid it all together closer to bedtime)
Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day (consistency is key)
Set your bedroom temperature to an optimal 70 degrees
Consider natural melatonin supplements, if needed
If you’re a workaholic, schedule your day to END in the early evening (downtime and unwinding are key to a restful sleep)
Optimize your lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating healthy, and reducing stress)
If you struggle with sleep, avoid alcohol, sugar, and late night screen-time.
Summary
The importance of sleep is undeniable by looking at the key role it plays in an optimal, healthy lifestyle. Study after study continues to pop-up to further verify this fact. If you haven’t yet considered it to be a crucial aspect of health, hopefully this article has enlightened you. If nothing else, don’t become overwhelmed or concerned. Simply choose two or three tips from the list above and give it a try.
You’ll thank yourself later!
