Are You Getting Enough Sleep? 5 Ways to Up Your Sleeping Game!

Most of us imagine our last full night of sleep was probably when we were children. As we get older and our lives get busier and busier, the quality and the amount of sleep we’re getting just seems to get less and less. It plays havoc with our moods, with our stress levels and our ability to function as well as we’d hope.

Most of us just try to power through, drinking lots of caffeine or covering up our dark circles with good makeup, after all, dark circles and blemishes can be covered up by concealers! But did you know that actually adopting some healthy sleep habits can dramatically improve the quality of your life?

It’s true! Unsure of where to begin? Read on for 5 ways you can up your sleeping game.

Get a sleep schedule – and stick to it!

Yes. Even on weekends! This is perhaps one of the easier ways to improve the quality of the sleep you’re getting. Heading to bed at the same time each night and then getting up at the same time each morning helps your body to recognize when it is time to rest and heal. Regulating your body clock will also help you to fall asleep quicker and wake naturally.

Create a bedtime routine

Many parents create a bedtime routine for their babies and toddlers, to help them recognize that it is time to get ready for bed and to settle down. So, why should we stop doing it just because we’re adults? Creating a bedtime routine to help you relax and unwind after a hectic day will significantly help you to fall asleep and improve the quality of your sleep. Keeping away from bright screens, not using your phone or tablet 2 hours before you head to bed, stretching, having a bath – all things you can do to unwind.

Exercise, daily

If you’re feeling tired then surely using valuable energy resources on exercise will only make things worse? Actually, as well as the obvious health benefits to exercise, moving your body daily will help you sleep more soundly. You don’t have to go hard at the gym, just light exercise will improve things.

Evaluate where you sleep

The bedroom is used for many things, but rest and relaxation should be a priority. Remove anything that makes you feel stressed or anxious. This could be clutter, work related items and even piles of dirty or clean laundry. Next, evaluate the room and make sure it’s dark and quiet; blackout blinds will help immensely, whilst ear plugs and eye masks are the way to go if your partner snores a little too loudly or you leave the hallway light on for the little ones.

Avoid naps

If you need to nap to power through the day, then try to nap during the morning. You wouldn’t put a toddler down for a nap at 4pm, so don’t apply this to yourself either!