5 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

Did you know that nearly 35% of Americans are not getting enough sleep? Getting into bed at the end of a long day should be something to look forward to. It is recommended that adults get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a night.

Sleep is not only important for your physical health, but your mental health too. Getting enough hours of shut eye is just as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise. There are numerous health benefits associated with sleeping.

Getting a quality night’s sleep can be very difficult for people, especially when stress levels are high. There are some useful tips that you can try to help ease your mind into a deep slumber.

6 Benefits of Sleeping

Sleep is vital but all too often neglected. Getting adequate sleep is important because it enables the body to repair and be fit and ready for another day. Other health benefits include:

1. Sharpens Concentration: Sleep patterns affect cognition, productivity, and concentration. Getting enough sleep can help you work more efficiently!

2. Lowers Risk of Heart Disease: Getting adequate rest each night helps the body regulate blood pressure.

3. Improves Social and Emotional Intelligence: When someone does not get enough sleep, they are more likely to have issues understanding other people’s emotions and expressions. A person’s emotional empathy lessens when they do not get adequate sleep.

4. Prevents Depression: There is a strong link between sleep and mental health. Getting enough sleep can help reduce your risk for developing depression.

5. Lowers Inflammation: Sleep helps to reduce inflammation in the body and prevent diseases that are caused by inflammation.

6. Strengthens the Immune System:  Sleep helps the body repair, regenerate, and recover. Some research shows that better sleep quality can help the body fight off infection.

5 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

Once you’re in bed, you may find it difficult to fall asleep. You can be lying there for hours, hoping for sleep, and find that you spent half the night tossing and turning. There are some tips that you can try to help you get to sleep faster.

1. Put away the phone: Blue light from smart devices can keep you awake and trick your body into thinking it’s daytime.

2. Take a relaxing bath/shower before bed, it will calm the mind and body, and lead to a better night’s sleep.

3. Exercise regularly: Regular movement can lead to a night of peaceful sleep and you wake up feeling rested.

4. Tend to Your Bed: Your bed, mattress, and pillow can greatly affect sleep quality and joint or back pain. Try to buy high-quality bedding, including a mattress, every 5–8 years.

5. Create an optimal sleep environment: Optimize your bedroom environment by eliminating external light and noise to get better sleep.

Next time you want to stay up late or skip a nap, think twice! Sleep is something we all need and should try consciously to get more of! So, sleep in, take the nap, and have a better day!

Your Turn To Action: Which sleep tip will you try tonight? Let me know in the comments below.

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