Proper Sleep Hygiene Results In Better Sleep: Five Steps To Improved Sleep Hygiene
It is probably not surprising that numerous studies have found that proper sleep hygiene leads to improved sleep and can help fix sleeping problems; however, many individuals fail to take advantage of this finding. Moreover, despite the fact that improving sleep hygiene is fairly simple, many people simply ignore the basic steps and use prescription or over-the-counter sleep medications instead.
Sleep hygiene can be defined as all behavioral and environmental factors that affect your sleep. You can evaluate your current level of sleep hygiene by taking Discovery Health’s sleep hygiene assessment test here; however, if you are typically exhausted or have difficulty sleeping through the night, you likely have some idea where you stand.
Of course, nothing is quite easy as popping a pill and falling asleep. On the other hand, improving one’s sleep hygiene naturally poses significantly fewer long term health risks than taking sleep drugs. Here are five steps that you can take to improve your sleep hygiene, and therefore your overall health.
1. Keep A Sleeping Schedule: Sticking to regular bedtime hours helps your body develop a sleeping rhythm, and makes it easier for you to fall asleep quickly each night.
2. Kill Your Clocks - Get rid of any illuminated clocks in your bedroom - that digital glow only causes more stress (does “Only four more hours until the alarm goes off! Gotta get to sleep!” seem familiar?).
3. Cut The Caffeine - Even the most die-hard java addicts should cool it with the caffeine after their morning cup; try decaf if you simply must have a coffee fix.
4. Chill Out - A cooler bedroom helps promote sleep, so turn on that air-conditioning in the summer and turn down the heat in the winter.
5. Listen to Speed Sleep - Naturally, we had to include this one, but consistent listening to Speed Sleep does help users fall asleep more quickly and easily.
Tags: better sleep, improve your sleep, sleep hygiene, Sleep Studies