Sleep as if you were on a vacation
Sleep duration is very important. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep. To find out how much sleep your body and brain need, think back to your vacations. How many hours did you sleep after a few days when you settled into your vacation? That’s probably close to how many hours your body naturally needs.
Stick to your wake-up time
Your wake-up time is a strong signal that influences your circadian rhythm, your sleep/wake cycle. That’s why regularity is important, you should choose a wake-up time you can stick with over the weekend, not just during workdays. Some people are night owls, while others are early birds. You can use this questionnaire to find out which chronotype fits you. When you wake up, expose yourself to bright light. That will help you adjust your circadian rhythm.
Use naps wisely
Naps can be a part of your sleep routine if you have no issues falling asleep or staying asleep. But if you’re using naps to make up for poor sleep at night, then you’re only making the problem worse over the long term. That’s because a nap takes away some of your sleepiness that builds up gradually throughout the day. That way, napping will make it even harder for you to fall and stay asleep when the evening comes.
Change what you do before going to bed
What you do before bedtime can have a big impact on how easily you fall asleep. Try to avoid the following activities 1-2 hours before going to sleep. They tend to overstimulate you and keep you up for too long.
• Watching the news
• Paying bills
• Consuming caffeine and stimulants
• Playing video games
• Watching bingeable TV shows
On the other hand, some activities can make you fall asleep too early. These could include reading lying down in a dark room or drinking alcohol. Moreover, alcohol reduces your overall sleep quality. So try to avoid those too. Choose some of the following activities instead. They will keep you awake but not overstimulated.
• Reading but not in bed
• Talking to your partner
• Preparing food and clothes for tomorrow
• Doing your evening hygiene
• Listening to music
These activities will help you wind down and get ready for sleep. Avoiding blue light in the evening is also helpful. If you have to watch a screen, make sure to turn on a night mode or install a blue light blocking app.
Try to implement at least one of these tips into your sleep routine, and you will see changes in your sleep quality. That will give your immune system a boost for sure! We will go over more good habits you can try in the next article.
