A good night’s sleep benefits us in more ways than we probably even care to think about. We spend up to one third of our lives asleep – that’s over 25 years in most cases that we are in the land of nod, dead to the world and encased in our own dreams. It’s a pretty cool thought, albeit quite a scary one at the same time. Just what do our bodies need that much rest time for – and what can we do to aid it?
Hold On!
When we are babies, our bodies need to get rest to help process the day. We retain information better the more we nap (what an excuse for a doze…), and so with small children having to learn so much during an average day, it’s no wonder that they get tired so quickly. It’s their brain trying to process everything and embed it for future use. Pretty cool, huh? So, to tire yourself out, give yourself a puzzle or a brainteaser to do before you go to bed. Not only will it wear your brain out quicker, but it’ll give you something to think about while you sleep … and hopefully you’ll be able to crack them more quickly when you wake up.
You’ve Made Your Bed, Now Lie In It
It’s no big secret that a successful sleep is largely down to what you’re sleeping on. There are certain mattresses which are good for different things; for example, you can buy these mattresses to eliminate back pain, check out memory foam mattresses for a more snug and secure sleep or even consider a water bed for something a bit different. It’s recommended that you change your mattress every eight years to give your body the best quality sleep that it can get.
Cut Out Tech
There are so many gizmos and gadgets floating around nowadays that we are more or less addicted to. How many times have you fallen asleep with your phone in your hand, or at least sat in bed checking out social media before you’ve shut your eyes? The brightness of the screen is actually keeping your brain alert and now slowly getting it to relax as you might think. Get off any technology at least one hour before you go to bed.
Sup It Up
Drinking more water will help your body to stay hydrated and not give you thirst signals during the night, which will disrupt your sleep. Start drinking the good stuff!
Eat Right
Going to bed on a full stomach is never a good idea, but there are also certain foods which will wreak havoc with your digestive system while you’re sleeping, leading you to not fall into the deepest sleep that you deserve. Cut out the fatty foods right before you go to bed.
Exercise More!
Surprise surprise, wearing your body out actually helps you to have a better and more relaxed sleep. It’s because it’s really making the effort to repair everything that’s been stretched throughout the day, so get ready for relaxation time!
