4 Tips for Better Sleep
Sleep is so important for both our physical being and mental being. When we sleep, our brain works to support and maintain our physical and mental states. Sleep allows our bodies to maintain a lot of our cognitive skills as well, such as attention, learning, and memory. This in turn allows us to better perform at work, in school, and in other aspects of our lives as well. When our bodies register that we had gotten enough sleep the night before, we are more energized, able to keep our emotions in check, and better equipped to handle whatever daily tasks are written into our to-do lists. Additionally, adequate sleep allows us to handle minor stressors in a much more realistic and healthy way, allowing us to see the world around us more accurately.
However, sometimes we fall short of the eight to ten hours of sleep recommended a night. Whether it be from working late, struggling to cope with a stressful event, or maybe even too much caffeine from earlier in the day, we all fall victim to a poor night’s sleep. Prioritizing rest and sleep is such an important way to maintain a healthy physical and mental state. Below, I’ve curated my favorite ways to ensure a good night’s sleep!
1. Dark Mode
Switiching our devices from light mode to dark mode at least an hour before bed helps reduce the amount of blue light our devices emit. Blue light can keep our brains awake and stimulated, interrupting our ability to get a good night’s sleep. Using our phone in dark mode can help reduce the negative effects of blue light.
2. Light, Not Heavy
Sometimes temperature can make a big difference in our sleep performance, especially warmer temperatures. When our body registers the temperature as too warm, it can interfere with our sleep patterns and the discomfort can keep us awake. Using a lighter comforter or duvet can help keep you cool through the night, and allow your body to maintain a more comfortable temperature.
3. Blue Light Glasses
Especially in a post-pandemic world, most of our time is spent looking at our screens. Whether is to work, send emails, or enjoy social media, we expose ourselves to a crazy amount of blue-light everyday. This form of light has been shown to keep us awake and interfere with our ability to get a healthy amount of sleep at night. Blue light glasses help to block some of that blue light exposure and maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
4. Meditate
Meditating has so many helpful benefits for our mental and emotional states. Just ten minutes of meditation a day can help keep our stress levels at bay and allow our nervous systems to stay in their healthy equilibrium state. Meditating throughout your day or right before bed can help calm your body down and settle your mind. This will allow for you to more easily fall asleep, as well as stay in a healthy sleep.
