We live in a busy world, and during the course of any single day, you can easily feel as though there simply aren’t enough hours to get everything done. Getting enough sleep can seem like a waste of time you could spend working late into the night. However, proper sleep is crucial to the maintenance of our health and overall productivity. By investing time into both getting enough sleep and ensuring its quality, you can quickly find that it pays back.
It’s estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that one out of three adults don’t get enough sleep. While this may not seem to be a big deal, there are a number of serious health problems that can be directly linked to sleep deprivation including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Increase in symptoms in those already suffering with hypertension
If you feel you aren’t getting the quality of sleep you need to make the most of your life, there are three ways you can improve your health through proper sleep.
1. Sleep Cool
It’s reported by the National Sleep Foundation that the body temperature drops during sleep. Research has shown that the best temperature to foster a restful sleep is between 65-68 degrees as this helps the body easily adapt to rejuvenation mode. In order to encourage this process, there are products on the market that apply a cooling effect directly to the body. Using cooling mattress pads (see reviews here), you can regulate your body temperature consistently throughout the evening, best ensuring your body can focus on rest and relaxation. Even sleeping naked has its temperature regulating affects.
2. Create Your Own Sleep Castle
You have a degree of control of your own environment when it comes to your bedroom, and you can use this power to create your own sleep castle. For a minimal investment, you can create an ambiance that will best facilitate good sleep. Just a few ideas of modifications you can make to your room include:
- Incorporate white noise appliances to reduce outside sounds.
- Consider the purchase of heavy curtains or even just some dark shades to minimize light coming in through the window.
- If the room is poorly ventilated, place a fan in the room. The sound of an appliance can also help promote sleep.
There are a variety of fun and unique ways you can create the optimal environment for sleep, and you can find them here.
3. Embrace Light During the Day
You probably don’t link the sun with proper sleep, but it contributes more than you may realize. Natural light is known to keep your sleep cycle in check, so you should be sure to take advantage of the sun’s rays during the day.
This can be achieved by opening the curtains first thing in the morning and taking a break at work out on the front porch. Even a brisk walk around the block can provide valuable exposure to help you keep your sleep cycle properly regulated.
4. Rest Your Mind
Shut down your electronics several hours before bed and clear your thoughts by reading a book, doing some stretches or yoga or even some meditation. Going to bed with thoughts racing through your mind about what you have to get done the next day never leads to a restful sleep and having your electronics open isn’t the best way to take your mind away from your worries.
Blue light is terrible for sleep as there are studies, upon studies, upon studies that argue its bad health.
If you’re more of an audio person… listen to some soothing music as you sleep.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vniCoQNgALE]
The Quality of Life You’ve Been Missing Out On
Because so many people overlook the importance of proper sleep, millions across the globe miss out on just how much more productive their lives could be. This is sacred time set aside for both the body and the mind to rejuvenate, and this helps you to remain aware and focused as well as think more clearly to put your mind to the most productive use. By incorporating these three useful tips, you can be on your way to living the quality of life you never even knew you were missing out on.
