Are you always feeling tired when waking up in the morning or feeling like you just can never get enough sleep? Healthy sleeping habits contribute to your overall quality of life leaving you more productive, emotionally balanced and energetic the next day. Here are 5 tips to help you get a restful night.
1. Have a consistent sleeping schedule and maintain consistent hours
Aim to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday. This helps set your internal body clock and optimize your sleep quality. Choose a bed time where you usually feel tired and if you are naturally getting enough sleep, an alarm is usually not a necessity. If you need one, try to set an earlier bed time.
2. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid naps especially in the afternoon.
Similar to the tip above, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can help optimize your sleep quality. Taking afternoon or power naps may disrupt your sleeping schedule that may leave you sleeping later and subsequently, waking up later than usual.
3. Avoid caffeine close to bedtime.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can temporarily help you stay awake and alert by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals. By avoiding caffeine close to bed time, it can help you feel less alert during the night when it is time for your good night’s sleep.
4. Exercise daily.
Reported by many studies, exercise improves sleep quality such as improving time needed to fall asleep and increased deep sleep. Studies also reported no significant difference exercising in the daytime or nighttime (1). Determining which part of the day you exercise is determined by your lifestyle and personal preference as long as it does not deter you from sleep. Moderate exercise is optimal but even light exercise is better than no activity.
5. Improve your sleep environment.
You can do this by making your bed a little more comfortable by rearranging your bedding or purchasing a new mattress or pillows. Make sure that your mattress is not passed its life span (generally 10 years) and that your mattress and pillows are of good quality. Allergens is also something to keep in mind of and ensure that your bedding is free of any allergens.
1. Dolezal, B. A., Neufeld, E. V., Boland, D. M., Martin, J. L., & Cooper, C. B. (2017). Interrelationship between sleep and exercise: A systematic review. Advances in Preventive Medicine, 2017, 1-14. doi:10.1155/2017/1364387
Mika Pelaez – Kinesiologist / Marketing Coordinator
Mika became involved in sports at a young age, eventually settling to practice martial arts like kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She also enjoys hiking and kayaking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter. Mika has a passion for sports, health, fitness and education and she hopes to influence others in pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle.
