Sleep is such an important factor in life, and is absolutely essential in order to be healthy.
As someone balancing work, school, and being a mom all full time, let me tell you that lack of sleep can cause so much havoc. Especially during finals week. The biggest issue it brings? Stress. Stress can make you physically ill: not only will you be bummed out mentally, you can get severe headaches or migraines that cause your immune system to weaken, in turn making you susceptible to whatever flu or bug is going around.
On top of that, there’s a very fine line between stress and depression. If you fall down that slope, it is extremely difficult to climb back out of it again. Don’t put yourself in that kind of situation! Get some sleep. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep in that bedroom of yours can do.
Here are three easy things you can do to help you sleep better.
Step #1: Create the comfort.
Many people don’t think about this one, but it’s actually a no-brainer: you need a comfortable mattress so you have a comfortable bed that promotes good sleep! If your mattress isn’t any good, your sleep won’t be either. Many of us don’t realize when our mattress is the underlying issue (literally, haha) that is causing our restless nights. But once you take the time to go to a mattress store and test a few out, you’ll realize what you’ve been missing for so long. Seek out the highest rated options on mattress.review for other consumers’ thoughts, and go invest in a new mattress. Your body will thank you!
Step #2: Tap out of technology.
How many of us check our phones while laying in bed? I know my hand is raised. It’s common that the last thing you see before going to sleep is some sort of screen. If not your phone, possibly your computer or TV (again, hand raised on both!). As humans, we get into this habit of relying on technology in order to function. And – while they are undeniably helpful in our daily lives – they aren’t very helpful when trying to get quality sleep. The bright screen can be harmful to your eyes, particularly in a darkened room, and your concentration on the screen won’t allow your mind to shut down properly. In fact, it does the opposite. An easy fix? Figure out what time you go to bed each night, and plan to shut off all the screens at least one hour beforehand to help your body relax. Use this hour for reading, meditation, or even a soothing bath.
Step #3: Drop the temperature.
As the season is beginning to warm up, so are our homes. Our bodies find it very hard to fall asleep if we’re too hot, so switching on the fan or A/C is a simple way to avoid this. We actually require a temperature a little cooler than your normal room temperature in order to fall asleep. Even if you feel a little chilly when you first climb into bed, your body temperature will level itself out over the course of the night. And if you still feel a little cold, you can always snuggle under some nice cozy blankets that you bought for your new mattress! 😉
