March 18th marks the relaxing celebration of World Sleep Day! Established by the World Sleep Society, World Sleep Day is celebrated every year on the Friday before the Spring Equinox. It’s purpose? To raise awareness about the value in forming good sleeping habits. According to the Sleep Foundation, approximately half of Americans spend more of their week feeling sleep. Additionally, over a quarter of American adults report getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night. Bearing this in mind, to commemorate this special observance, we’ll be sharing a few ways to ensure you’re getting the most out of your sleep.
1. Maintain a regular sleep routine
Maintaining a regular sleep routine is essential in making sure you get the most restful sleep possible. While it isn’t always possible to be in bed early to wake up early the next day, setting up a schedule that best suits your needs is a must. Ensuring that the schedule allows for 7-9 hours of sleep is also essential. Though everyone has different amounts of sleep they need, aiming to sleep within that range is a good goal.
2. Avoid substances that interfere with restful sleep
Avoiding substance that will interfere with the quality of sleep you get is also vital. The biggest culprit to bad sleep is caffeine, and it can take the body several hours to fully process caffeine. With that in mind, avoid caffeinated beverages after 2PM and be mindful that not only coffee contains caffeine, but some sodas and teas as well. Additionally, being mindful of alcohol consumption will help promote more restful sleep.
3. Establish a healthful sleeping space
To establish a healthful sleeping space, it is important to note the important attributes required to have such a space. First, keeping the room you sleep in dark and quiet will help diminish any distractions. Also, keeping the temperature in the room cool will also help you get better sleep. Keeping all electronic devices away from you a few hours before bedtime will also help make sure you get the best sleep possible.
4. Form a pre-bedtime routine
Forming a pre-bedtime routine is a great way to help you get ready to go to bed. Maybe that routine includes doing some yoga or taking a warm bath. Spending the time before bed reflecting on your day and planning for tomorrow is another great way to prep for bed while also promoting mindfulness. Whatever helps you unwind after a long day is a great way to make sure you’re ready for bed when the time comes.
Now that you have a few tips to help you get some better sleep tonight, we hope that you can make the most out of this World Sleep Day! If you’re interested in learning about how you can promote healthier habits in your life to help get a good night’s sleep, visit our other blog posts!