12/08/2021
Sleep hygiene is essentially good sleep practice.
Getting a good nights sleep is essential for your mental and physical well-being. However, many of us have poor sleep hygiene, and our behaviours throughout the day can affect how well we sleep.
Here are some tips for a good nights sleep:
1- Turn off your TV, phone, and laptop! It’s far too easy to get carried away watching episodes of your favourite show or scrolling mindlessly through social media - but this can prevent us from sleeping.
The blue light on electronic devices can reduce melatonin levels in our body. Melatonin controls our sleep/ wake cycle, and too much blue light exposure can make it difficult to drift off, and to stay sleeping.
2- Only go to bed when you’re ready for sleep! Especially in the era of working from home, it can be tempting to lie in bed with your laptop and work from bed. Although it may be comfortable, it can confuse your brain’s association with bed and sleep - after all, if you’re awake most of the time you’re in bed, your brain won’t recognise when it’s time to sleep.
3- Set a routine and stick to it. It can be difficult sticking to a routine, especially if you work shifts - but sleeping around the same time every night can improve how well you sleep and how easy it is to fall to sleep. The recommended amount of sleep is between 7 and 8 hours, so try to include this many hours in your sleep routine.
4- Exercise! 30 minute or more of exercise per day can help to improve the quality of your sleep. However, it’s important to not exercise within a couple of hours of your bed time, as you may be uncomfortable, have high energy levels, and a high body temperature.
5- Limit your caffeine intake! Although different people have different caffeine tolerances, it’s generally best to avoid caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee in the late afternoon and evenings.
The effects of caffeine can last between 3 and 7 hours after drinking, so be cautious of when your last cup of coffee is as it may keep you up at night.
Do you have any tips for good sleep hygiene? Let us know in the comments 😴😴✨