Many people, including me, have experienced problems when it comes to bedtime, let me tell you that it is something more common than we think. The National Institute of Health (NIH) states indicate that approximately 70 million people in the United States have sleep problems, mainly insomnia. The institute states that an average adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to be rested and not experience drowsiness during the day. Sleep problems are often present in adolescents, they generally need around 9 hours of sleep at night, but statistics say that most do not meet those hours.
If you currently have problems with sleep or think you could, the first thing you should do is observe your patterns and habits at bedtime, what you usually do, and how they could be done differently. It is necessary to keep track to see how long you usually sleep during the night and the quality of sleep you feel the next day. It is a precise way of being able to observe when and under what factors you are sleeping better to understand the alternatives and have a plan of action to improve our sleep.
After observing your habits and sleep patterns for a few days, try some strategies that you will find in our post below, which will probably help you improve and get deeper sleep, from there, continue making adjustments and you will see that you will soon have sleep as deep as you ever wanted. Here we have a list of things that help you sleep better.
1. Have a sleep routine
All people have in their body a compound called melatonin, it is a natural hormone, whose main function is to regulate the sleep cycle, making it work correctly, improving the quality of sleep. Having a sleep routine makes us promote the action of melatonin in our body, actions such as going to bed at the same time and getting up at a certain time makes our body more predisposed to comply with its sleep schedule, which results in greater well-being and better quality of sleep.
Having a sleep routine implies that we disconnect from all electronic devices so that our brain functions begin to relax, in this way we will enter a phase of tranquility and relaxation. This can also be accompanied by some quiet activity such as reading a book or listening to a podcast. Maintaining bedtime habits is one of the actions that have the greatest effect on our quality of sleep and our well-being in general.
2. Make sure you sleep comfortably
Definitely a good bed is necessary for a pleasant and restful sleep, but what characteristics should a good bed have? A bed should have enough space so that you can move during the night, this depends on the size of each person. On the other hand mattresses come in different sizes, thicknesses and different materials, be sure to choose the best that fits you.
A very important aspect is a good protection like a bed comforter since they have the functionality of providing you with comfort and isolating you from the cold. Bed comforters are found in an infinite variety of sizes and thicknesses for all design tastes. Without a doubt, it is an element that you need in your bed to sleep comfortably so you can get a relaxing and restful sleep.
3. Control the light and noise in the room
Light and noise in the room are external elements that we must control since they have a huge impact on the quality of sleep. The darkness causes our brain to begin releasing melatonin and in a calm environment with few sensory stimulations induces us to be calm and completely relax.
Minimizing all the devices that emit light and using blackout curtains that are usually made of a more compact material and do not allow light to pass through, are some things you can do to reduce the effect of light. In the same way regarding noise, we can choose a room away from the noise and add anti-noise windows. Also, try using earplugs as these can be very helpful at a low cost.
4. Exercise and diet
Without a doubt, having a healthy life during the day will provide us the tools we need to be able to sleep better at night. The quality of sleep we have usually is represented by the quality of the day we have lived, that is why both moments of our day have to be in harmony.
One of the methods that science promotes to live a healthier life is to exercise and eat healthily, in this way the levels and indicators of chemical substances in our body, will be regularized if they are not and will provide a feeling of total well-being in our everyday life. One of the benefits that exercise brings is that by doing it our body releases endorphins which is a natural substance that increases the state of well-being and reduces the sensation of emotional pain.
In the same way, together with a balanced diet, it increases our energy during the day and makes us have a more pleasant day to enjoy the activities that we like the most. It is necessary to mention that we must avoid all kinds of drinks that contain caffeine during the night, as this substance can stimulate our sensory system and cause problems at bedtime.
Parting Shot
Sleep problems, if not treated in time, can represent a long-term problem since it can lead to pharmacologic dependence. There are many natural methods to deal with this common and real problem. It is necessary to unite all aspects of our life, focusing and aligning them to the main objective, to be able to have quality sleep for the total well-being of our life. That is why a good healthy lifestyle and correct bedtime habits are the main ingredients for a happier life.
