How to Get 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night
A good night’s rest is just as essential to your health as a balanced diet and regular exercise, but it can also be the most difficult to maintain. With a hectic job, a busy household and hardly any time for yourself, sleep is sometimes the last thing on your mind when the time actually arrives. So when it comes to sleep, make an effort to just relax. Easier said than done, but with our few pointers, you’ll be well on your way to getting eight hours every night.
Create Your Mental Sleep Environment
When you close your eyes, envision what you’d like to dream about that night. Push everything from your stressful workday out of your head. Forget about the approaching deadlines and piling stack of dishes in the kitchen. Don’t lie down and recount every mishap from your day.This sort of thought process creates a tense sleep space, which is the exact opposite of what you’ll need to achieve better sleep. A tense sleep space could encourage unhealthy sleeping habits like teeth grinding. According to an article published by The Sleep Foundation, teeth grinding for prolonged periods can cause facial pain, severe dental damage and disturbed sleep. A good night’s rest doesn’t just save your sanity; it also protects your health. As soon as your head hits the pillow, even before, you’re creating your sleep environment. If you take your worries into bed with you, they’ll follow you into your dreams. Think of what makes you relaxed or happy and then transport yourself there. Go hiking with your dog or catch a few rays on a secluded beach with the sand between your toes.
Train Your Body
If you’ve become used to not resting before 3 a.m., simply laying down beneath the covers won’t put you to sleep. More than likely, this will just make you more stressed and distracted. While your body thinks it should still be awake, you’re sending signals that it’s time for bed. To help ease into this transition, make yourself a bedtime routine. Draw a hot bath, and put away all electronics. Instead of scrolling through social media before you rest, read a book. All of these things will prepare your body for sleep so that your time in bed is well spent.
Do Some Research
So you’ve done everything we’ve suggested and more to no avail. Your sleep is still restless and you’re still physically drained in the mornings. It may be time to do some research on your sleep cycle. There are easier ways to accomplish this now in our digital age, like sleep tracking apps (Don’t get distracted by the screen! Set it up, and then hide it away beneath your pillow). They’ll tell you for how long you’re actually sleeping, when you toss and turn, and at what point in the night your sleep cycle is interrupted. This will help you narrow your focus to just a couple things in improving your sleep.
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