Here are some common mistakes you might be making in your sleep routine that, if reversed, can help you get the best sleep you have had in years.
Common Mistakes You Are Making in Your Sleep Routine
Mistake #1: You Are Starting it Too Late
> Start Your Sleep Routine At Least An Hour Before Your Bedtime
Your sleep routine doesn’t start a few minutes before you intend to fall asleep. You need to start it at least an hour before your bedtime. If you wait too long, you’re going to end up falling short on the hours of sleep you get each night, especially if you wake up to an alarm each morning.
> Set an Alarm for About an Hour Before You Need to Fall Asleep
Try setting the alarm for about an hour before you need to fall asleep. You don’t need to use this alarm every night forever, just long enough until this becomes a habit. Once you automatically start getting ready for bed at this earlier time, you can remove the alarm. Habits are formed from repetition, so this step does help a lot.
Mistake #2: You Aren’t Changing Your Sleep Environment
> Small Changes to Change in Your Sleep Environment
How can you expect to sleep better if you have changed nothing in your sleep environment? This doesn’t have to be drastic changes, but small things like:
- cooling off the temperature,
- making it a little darker,
- not having any electronics in your bedroom, and
- not having bright lights in your bedroom.
> Small Changes with Your Bed
An easy place to start is with your bed itself. You might not be able to get a new mattress just yet, but you can get softer bedding, upgrade your bed pillows, or get cooling sheets if you tend to wake up sweating in the middle of the night. Make your bed cosy, and you are bound to sleep a little better.
Mistake #3: You Watch Screens Until You Fall Asleep
> Stop keeping the TV on or using your phone until you doze off!
This is only hurting your sleep and probably giving you eye fatigue as well. It might seem like the TV is helping you sleep, but it is likely disrupting your sleep. It keeps a blue light on in your room as you fall asleep, and the different changes in sound from your TV in the middle of the night probably wake you up.
With the light being emitted, cortisol levels keep up, and melatonin production cannot start, disrupting your sleep. The more you are following the rhythms of natural light, the better you will sleep.
Mistake #4: You Aren’t Taking it Seriously
> Sleep as a Fundamental Area of Health and Wellness
Sleep is one of the fundamental areas of health and wellness and should be just as important as nutrition and exercise. Make this a priority in your life and focus on getting better sleep.
Are you looking for more solutions for better sleep? If so, check out Sleep Your Way to Better Health.