Sleep is crucial for your overall health and wellbeing – without it, you will not be able to function and may develop severe health issues. Many people suffer from difficulties sleeping, whether this is falling or staying asleep. There may also be times where you wake up feeling physically drained, even though you slept for hours. There are a range of factors that may be affecting your sleep, some of which you may be oblivious to..
This article will discuss six things that might affect your sleep that you may not know about, so that you can address the difficulties and finally rest.
1. Lack of a Schedule
One of the things that may be hindering your sleep is a lack of a sleeping schedule. It may not make much sense to you that you need a fixed schedule as you can ‘sleep when you are tired’. However, your body’s internal clock needs consistency to function well. For this to happen, you must try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. It may be difficult to do this on days when you are free to sleep for longer, but try to maintain the same schedule. You may experience difficulties sleeping if you are waking up early on some days and going to bed extremely late on others. Your body may not have appropriate time to adjust to the change and you may struggle to fall asleep most nights.
2. Poor Sleeping Routine
A night routine is just as important as a morning one where you complete a set of tasks that prepare you for your sleep. This is important because it will provide your body with the sleeping cues it needs to know that it will be going to sleep soon. You create the routine that is appropriate to you – everyone has their own preference. You may choose to read a book before, meditate or listen to relaxing music. Whatever you choose, should leave you relaxed and sleepy.
3. Screen Time Before Bed
Nowadays, there is such easy access to technology that it can be difficult to steer clear of the screens, particularly as you are going to bed. You should understand that the light emitted by the screens can interfere with your sleep abilities. If you are struggling with falling asleep or getting good quality sleep, it may be due to you watching tv just before bed or scrolling on your phone. Understandably, you may be required to do this sometimes, if you are working or studying late – if this is the case you may want to consider using blue light glasses as they may help with improving your sleep. This accessory minimises the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes, allowing you to experience a better night.
4. Your Sleeping Environment
Take a look around… Is your sleeping environment adequate? There are a few factors that make a difference to how well you sleep and if you feel uncomfortable, you will certainly struggle to relax. One of the main things to ensure is that your room is dark enough – this is a priority for those working night shifts and sleeping during the day or during the seasons where daylight prevails. Your bed should also be comfortable – invest in a high quality mattress and sheets as this will make a significant difference to how you feel.
5. Your Diet
Most doctors and healthcare professionals will tell you that diet is one of the main factors to consider when it comes to your overall health. You really must be careful with what you consume as it can have a negative impact on your sleeping patterns. Drinking too much caffeine or sugary foods are particularly of concern, especially if you ingest these in the last hour before bedtime. Have a healthy and balanced diet and you will quickly see results, with your sleep as well as with your overall energy levels and general health.
6. Underlying Health Issues
If you lead a healthy lifestyle, and you have tried every single thing that comes to mind but your sleep is still affected, it may be that you are suffering from underlying health issues that may be the cause of the issue. If this is the case, it is recommended that you consult with a medical professional, so that you can be medically assessed. The healthcare expert will be able to diagnose what the issue is and treat you accordingly so that you can get some rest.
If you are experiencing difficulties sleeping, it is likely that there is something in particular causing this difficulty. The issues discussed on this page may be something that is currently affecting you. Have a think and try to address them to improve your snooze time.
