A good night’s sleep is crucial to your overall health, however, most people don’t even consider sleep to be a factor at all. The general consensus among people is that exercising and eating are the only major things that affect their overall health. Only fitness fanatics usually know that sleep is just as important because, without it, your body can’t function properly. From your metabolism to your energy levels, the quality of your sleep influences how you function in day-to-day tasks. Since there is so much false information floating around on the internet that discredits sleep altogether, it’s important to know how you can get a better night’s sleep.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the most essential factors that might affect your sleep quality. Once you learn what these are, you can easily make the accommodations you need to get the rest you deserve. Not only will you feel more energized but your overall health will start improving as well. So without further ado, let’s get to it and find out what affects your sleep the most.
1. Blue Light Exposure
Our circadian rhythm is what dictates our sleep cycle and exposure to blue light at night can have catastrophic effects. Most people who use mobile phones or laptops before bedtime face a lot of difficulty in falling asleep because of the disturbance in their circadian rhythm. This is why it’s advised to stop using these devices before bedtime and to use blue light filters if you can. You’ll notice a significant difference once you start going to bed without any devices and it’ll make you feel way more refreshed when you wake up.
2. Caffeine
Everyone knows that caffeine is a stimulant and it’s not particularly beneficial to our bodies. However, people still keep on consuming endless amounts of coffee every day, all in the name of increasing their energy and productivity. No matter how much caffeine helps you out with your productivity, the trade-off is definitely not worth your sleep. So try to cut down on caffeine and eventually eliminate it so that your sleep isn’t hindered.
3. Comfort
The comfort of your bed is unmatched by any other comfort in the world because your body has adapted to that particular environment. This is why pillows and mattresses are often the first culprits which come to mind when it comes to poor sleep. Not many people realize this but having the correct pillow can turn around the entire picture. You’ll be able to enter deeper stages of sleep like REM when your body is comfortable and this is why you should look into getting an upgrade if your current mattress and pillows are uncomfortable.
4. Temperature
The temperature of our body also dictates the quality of our sleep to a huge extent. If your body is too hot, you won’t be able to fall asleep and will be restless all night, however, if it’s too cold then you’ll suffer through the night. This is why setting the optimum temperature is essential. You should target somewhere around 20 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results.
5. Punctuality
We’ve already discussed how important the circadian rhythm is. It is also affected by your punctuality. Our bodies get accustomed to going to bed at a certain time and waking up at a certain time. However, any drastic changes can throw both off balance. Try to be punctual with your bedtime so that your circadian rhythm adjusts accordingly. You can go late to bed every once in a while but don’t make it a habit as that could have adverse effects on your sleep.
6. Exercise
Not many people associate sleep with exercise but there’s a very strong link between the two. If you exercise more and exhaust your body, you’re more likely to fall asleep faster. However, a lack of exercise or exercising right before your bed can have negative consequences. You need to time your exercise sessions right to make sure that you’re tired out and exhausted but make sure that your heart rate isn’t elevated before bed.
These are some of the most useful tips that you can implement into your life to get better sleep. Never underestimate how important sleep is for your physical and mental health, so do everything you can to sleep better. There are many more things you can do to sleep better as there’s tons of advice out there, however, these are the most effective tips that can be implemented without much effort. So try to follow these tips and soon, you’ll notice a drastic difference in your energy levels.