Doesn’t it seem like the older we get the less sleep we get? Our lives become busy, filled with work, school, kids, and just plain being an adult. And when you hear people say that ‘normal sleep’ is at least 8 hours each night you laugh, don’t you? And when you hear the term ‘sleep schedule’ you laugh even harder, right? Because you’re one of the many who sacrifice sleep in favor of life’s demands. This time of the year can be hard for anyone when it comes to balancing their day between active productivity and sleep. Given that the holiday season is in full swing, coupled with year-end office responsibilities, and 2019 planning, it's a wonder any of us are able to grab any sleep at all. So how can you handle this crazy time of year in the best way possible when it comes to sleep or lack thereof?
Falling asleep may seem like an impossible dream when you’re awake at 3 a.m., but good sleep is more under your control than you might think. Following healthy sleep habits can make the difference between restlessness and restful slumber. Researchers have identified a variety of practices and habits—known as “sleep hygiene"—that can help anyone maximize the hours they spend sleeping, even those whose sleep is affected by insomnia, jet lag, or shift work.
Sleep hygiene may sound unimaginative, but it just may be the best way to get the sleep you need in this 24/7 age. Here are some simple tips for making the sleep of your dreams a nightly reality:
#1 Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, Nicotine, and Other Chemicals that Interfere with Sleep
As any coffee lover knows, caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake. So avoid caffeine (found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and some pain relievers) for 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Similarly, smokers should refrain from using tobacco products too close to bedtime.
Although alcohol may help bring on sleep, after a few hours it acts as a stimulant, increasing the number of awakenings and generally decreasing the quality of sleep later in the night. It is therefore best to limit alcohol consumption to one to two drinks per day, or less, and to avoid drinking within three hours of bedtime.
#2 Turn Your Bedroom into a Sleep-Inducing Environment ONLY
A quiet, dark, and cool environment can help promote sound slumber. Why do you think bats congregate in caves for their daytime sleep? To achieve such an environment, lower the volume of outside noise with earplugs or a "white noise" appliance. Use heavy curtains, blackout shades, or an eye mask to block light, a powerful cue that tells the brain that it's time to wake up. Keep the temperature comfortably cool—between 60 and 65°F—and the room well ventilated. And make sure your bedroom is equipped with a comfortable mattress and pillows. (Remember that most mattresses wear out after ten years.)
Also, if a pet regularly wakes you during the night, you may want to consider keeping it out of your bedroom. It may help to limit your bedroom activities to primarily sleep only. Keeping computers, TVs, and work materials out of the room will strengthen the mental association between your bedroom and sleep. Also starting a habit of turning off data/wi-fi on smartphones will go a long way as well whenever you enter your bedroom (scrolling through pinterest, facebook, youtube, instagram, or any other apps while in bed is the absolute worst thing you can do).
#3 Establish a Soothing Pre-Sleep Routine
Ease the transition from wake time to sleep time with a period of relaxing activities an hour or so before bed. Take a bath (the rise, then fall in body temperature promotes drowsiness), read a book, meditate, pray, or practice relaxation exercises. Avoid stressful, stimulating activities—doing work, discussing emotional issues. Physically and psychologically stressful activities can cause the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with increasing alertness. If you tend to take your problems to bed, try writing them down—and then putting them aside.
#4 Go to Sleep When You’re Truly Tired
Struggling to fall sleep just leads to frustration. If you’re not asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room, and do something relaxing, like reading or listening to music until you are tired enough to sleep.
#5 Don’t Be a Nighttime Clock-Watcher
Staring at a clock in your bedroom, either when you are trying to fall asleep or when you wake in the middle of the night, can actually increase stress, making it harder to fall asleep. Turn your clock’s face away from you. And if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep in about 20 minutes, get up and engage in a quiet, restful activity such as reading or listening to music. And keep the lights dim; bright light can stimulate your internal clock. When your eyelids are drooping and you are ready to sleep, return to bed.
#6 Use Light to Your Advantage
Natural light keeps your internal clock on a healthy sleep-wake cycle. So let in the light first thing in the morning and get out of the office for a sun break during the day.
#7 Keep Your Internal Clock Set with a Consistent Sleep Schedule Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day sets the body’s "internal clock" to expect sleep at a certain time night after night. Try to stick as closely as possible to your routine on weekends to avoid a Monday morning sleep hangover. Waking up at the same time each day is the very best way to set your clock, and even if you did not sleep well the night before, the extra sleep drive will help you consolidate sleep the following night.
#8 Nap Early—Or Not at All
Many people make naps a regular part of their day. However, for those who find falling asleep or staying asleep through the night problematic, afternoon napping may be one of the culprits. This is because late-day naps decrease sleep drive. If you must nap, it’s better to keep it short (30 to 60 min) and before 5 p.m.
#9 Lighten Up on Evening Meals
Eating a pepperoni pizza at 10 p.m. may be a recipe for insomnia. Finish dinner several hours before bedtime and avoid foods that cause indigestion. If you get hungry at night, snack on foods that (in your experience) won't disturb your sleep.
#10 Balance Fluid Intake
Drink enough fluid at night to keep from waking up thirsty—but not so much and so close to bedtime that you will be awakened by the need for a trip to the bathroom.
#11 Exercise Early
Exercise can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly—as long as it's done at the right time. Exercise stimulates the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which helps activate the alerting mechanism in the brain. This is fine, unless you're trying to fall asleep. Try to finish exercising at least three hours before bed or work out earlier in the day.
#12 End on a Productive Note (A Trademark Steve Swan Secret! Getting into bed or ready for bed with a good mindset is such a huge and underrated way to get your best sleep possible. Actively set aside an easy, attainable job or chore to finish right before you get ready for sleep. It needs to be something simple and non-time consuming. Paying a bill online, taking out the trash that has been piling up, finishing lunches for the next day, setting out your outfit for the next morning, lightly cleaning/arranging/preparing a room for the next morning, leaving a loved one a small post-it note of a compliment or small joke to surprise them with on their nightstand, sending a cute and silly animal picture text to someone you love to make them smile, or just writing a list of all the things you already accomplished that day can all be ways to end the day with a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction of knowing you made a positive difference in either your life or the lives of those around you. That feeling will help ease your mind and rid you of any negative or stressful thoughts of the things you need to-do the next day or current trouble you are facing with your job or a relationship strain. You sleep better when you feel better, and you feel better when you have accomplishments or help others feel good. Don't start an entire project, but finish something simple (if you already make lunches or do laundry earlier, then purposely stop right before you are actually finished and leave 5 minutes worth of "easy" stuff to make sure that feeling of completion is achieved).
Some of these tips will be easier to include in your daily and nightly routine than others. However, if you stick with them, your chances of achieving restful sleep will improve. I recommend reading through them all, and then choosing 2 to 3 that seem the easiest/most likely for you to stick to for a solid week, and then you can start to add another tip or two every following week.
With that said, not all sleep problems are so easily treated and could signify the presence of a sleep disorder such as apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, or another clinical sleep problem. If your sleep difficulties don’t improve through good sleep hygiene, you may want to consult your physician or a sleep specialist.
Happy Dreaming from the RAW Fitness team!
Steve Swan - RAW Fitness Coach
