Establishing a healthy sleep schedule can help you feel energized and focused throughout the day.
Establishing healthy sleeping habits is essential for creating an overall healthy lifestyle. However, if the times at which you sleep are erratic and ever-changing, you aren’t getting the benefits you should be getting from your sleep. An effective way to ensure that your rest is benefiting you is to establish a healthy sleep schedule. Following the six tips below is an excellent way to begin to institute a sleep schedule that leaves you feeling refreshed and energized.
Be Consistent
Consistency is key in creating a healthy sleep schedule. You can establish consistent sleeping patterns by picking a bedtime and wake-up time and sticking to them as much as possible. If you enjoy sleeping in on the weekends, try not to sleep in more than an hour or two at the most, so as not to disrupt your established schedule completely. By keeping a consistent schedule, your internal clock will help you fall asleep and wake up easily at those times.
Make Gradual Adjustments
Creating a new healthy sleep schedule won’t happen overnight. The best way to move into your new schedule is to make small changes slowly. If you’re trying to move your bedtime up to 10 pm instead of midnight, gradually move your bedtime up 15 minutes until you reach 10 pm. This helps your body adjust more naturally.
Embrace the Morning Light
Your body’s internal clock is sensitive to external light and darkness, so getting a dose of natural sunlight early in the morning will help you wake up. Opening the curtains to let natural light into your bedroom can be a great way to signal to your brain that it’s time to wake up.
Dim the Nightlights
Too much light in the evenings can also keep you awake when you don’t want to be. To make sure you fall asleep at the time best for maintaining your healthy sleep schedule, dim as many lights as possible before you fall asleep. Turn off bright overhead lights, and avoid TV and computers an hour before bed.
Skip the Snooze Button
Although it may be tempting to hit the snooze button each morning, you should resist. The first few days of your new schedule won’t be easy, but the sleep you get after hitting the snooze button isn’t high-quality. Instead, set your alarm to the time at which you need to wake up and allow for a few minutes to adjust to your daytime rhythm.
Consider What and When You Eat
While it’s not helpful to go to bed on an empty stomach, it is equally bad to go to bed feeling stuffed. Eating dinner around the same time every night will help your healthy sleep schedule stay on track, and will help keep your body’s internal rhythms. You should also try to limit how much you drink before bedtime, so you aren’t woken up during the night for bathroom breaks.
Following these six guidelines can help you establish a healthy sleep schedule that provides you with energy to last all day.
Sleep Well With A Mattress From All American Mattress
At All American Mattress, we have the expertise and great prices to help you choose the perfect pillows and foam mattress for your bedroom. We have mattresses and bed frames available made from a variety of materials to suit your needs, whatever they are. Stop by our showroom, visit us online, or give us a call at (410) 451-9006 to see how we can get your toddler sleeping through the night. We offer brand names at affordable prices, and we will always work hard to keep your whole family comfortable. For more mattress shopping tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tags: healthy sleep, sleep habits, sleep schedule, Sleep Tips