A good night’s sleep, just like a healthy diet and exercise, is essential to your mental, emotional and physical well-being. Yet many people do not get the 7 to 8 hours of nightly sleep recommended by sleep experts. By making good sleep a priority, you are making a critical step in maintaining your health.

Did you know ?

• Poor sleep results in an increase of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Missing out on adequate sleep can interfere with your body’s hormones, leading to irritability, mood swings, cognitive impairment and slowed motor coordination.
• Lack of sleep can also affect your immune system, making you more likely to get sick with colds, flus and other illnesses.

We spend 33% of our lives asleep. Improving sleep means improving 1/3^rd of your life, not to mention all of the benefits that carry over when you are awake. And now that you know some of the issues that poor sleep can cause, here are some tips to help you get the good night’s rest your body and mind needs.

Have a bedtime routine. Whether you hit the lights and turn on the fan or toss your pillows and play white noise…whatever your bedtime routine is, keep it consistent. Doing the same things every night signals to your body that sleep is coming and it helps your body and mind relax so sleep comes easily.

Your mattress matters. A mattress that’s old and uncomfortable may result in aches and pains, tossing and turning and overall sleep that isn’t restful or restorative. If you’ve noticed that you sleep better in a hotel or at a friend’s house, it may be time for a new mattress.

Create a sleep suite. If you want better rest, you should make your bedroom more accommodating for sleep. Make sure the temperature is cool enough. A temperature between 65 and 67 degrees is ideal. You should keep laptops, TVs, smartphones and tablets out of the bedroom. Not only are they distractions. but the light they emit disturbs sleep.

 Check in with your doctor. Most people are able to achieve deep restful sleep once they create a healthy sleep environment and routine. If put these tips to work in your life and you’re still not experiencing restful sleep, you should check in with your doctor.

Source: bettersleep.org