Everybody needs more sleep than they are regularly getting, but sometimes it can be troublesome to sleep better. Here are six proven ways to improve your sleep cycle that will make you feel alive and awake all day. Consider a better bed, no afternoon caffeine, and exercise. Also, it would be best to go to sleep at a regular hour, eat a normal amount before bed, and count sheep instead of watching the clock.
Your Bed
An adjustable bed may be the answer if you are struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep. You will find more quality nights if you have the right mattress. You can find a bed that helps you get to sleep; you can even find a bed with a speaker that lets you play comforting sounds to help you sleep. You can also relieve back pain that can keep you up if you get a bed that targets comfort for your lower back. Your bed is a focal point for how well you sleep at night. If you are having trouble with your sleep cycle, consider changing your bed.
Before Sleep
If you are having trouble falling asleep, you may need to understand that caffeine in the afternoon really will keep you up longer than you wish. Consider setting a hard cutoff for when you quit drinking soda or coffee in the early afternoon, a cutoff that is in tune with when you want to go to bed. Also, understand that not all caffeinated beverages affect you equally because coffee counts extra. When you are trying to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, you need to ensure proper caffeine intake.
There is a reason parents want their children to run around at lunch at school beyond their health. Exercising during your day will significantly improve your sleep cycle once you lay down for bed. Consider a little cardio workout if you are having trouble falling asleep on time. If there do not seem to be other factors at play, exercise may be the ticket to help your sleep cycle.
When You Head to Bed
Going to sleep at a consistent time each day will make your sleep cycle much smoother, and you will find yourself sleeping better each night. Your body naturally produces a schedule for yourself, even if you keep odd hours. Going to sleep regularly at a specific time will begin to make you sleepy at that time each night. Smooth, consistent rest is possible by giving yourself and an adult bedtime and waking up at the same time each morning.
If you are too hungry or full to bursting, you will have a more challenging time sleeping at night. Eating right is one of the keys to proper sleep hygiene. If you have stomach trouble, you will have trouble falling asleep because the pain will keep you awake at night. Try eating a normal amount before bed because this is critical to sleeping soundly. Eating right is essential to sleep because any problem with your stomach is bound to keep you up well into the night.
While You Are Falling Asleep
A tricky thing to do mentally that will make an enormous difference to your sleep cycle is to count sheep, not hours lying awake. You may want to know how long you have until morning, but it is vital to avoid watching the clock because that can keep you up later. You will fall asleep when everything has left your mind, and you are resting, so do look at the clock once or twice if it is going to bother you. Still, avoiding clock watching will get you to sleep much faster than the alternative.
You can have the fantastic sleep that you deserve and desire. Trying out some of these six proven ways to improve your sleep cycle will help get you the sleep you need. Find out if you need a better bed, no afternoon caffeine, or exercise. Then see if you need to go to bed at a regular hour, are eating the right amount before bed, and if you should be counting sheep instead of watching the clock tick. Your life can feel unmanageable and overwhelming without proper sleep. Instead of suffering through another day without the right kind of sleep, reach out and take a better sleep cycle.