So many people (adults and children) struggle with sleep. Poor sleep will negatively affect your health and can even impede your ability to lose weight. Even though it is a natural phenomenon, it is still considered a habit that can be trained and there are so many factors that can affect sleep quality. Here are tips to help you get started on improving your slumber.
Create a Cave
Create a dark, chilly, quiet environment. Your body temperature naturally drops at night, so make sure that the room is a little chilly rather than too warm. Get rid of any flashing lights or bright alarm clocks. Use blackout curtains if there are bright street lights outside. Toss any unnecessary noises, like ticking clocks.
Establish a Routine
Our body systems love routines. We have natural changes in our hormone levels throughout the day. Priming your hormonal and neurological systems for sleep will help train your sleep habits. For example, if you want to be asleep by 10 pm, then at 9 pm, have a cup of herbal tea, go put your PJs on, take your contacts out, brush your teeth, and then cuddle up in bed with a book for half an hour. At 10 pm, lights out. This will help you wind down from the day. Make sure your routine is realistic for you and that you follow it consistently for the first few weeks.
No Afternoon Caffeine Kicks
Don’t drink any stimulating beverages after lunch. That afternoon espresso can throw off your rhythms. If you are going to have caffeine, confine it to early in the day. Too many stimulants running through your system can make it very difficult to wind down when it comes time for bed. It can also fry out your stress response systems and keep you in sympathetic (“fight or flight”) overdrive.
No Screen Time Before Bed
That’s right. No screen time. No computer. No TV. No iPad. Keep your eyes off those screens for at least 1 hour prior to shut-eye. One of the most effective ways for you to do this is to get the TV out of the bedroom. Following this guidance will improve your sleep quality (and probably your sex life).
Track It
There are lots of great apps out there to help you track your sleep and learn your patterns. One favourite is one called “Sleep Cycle”. With Sleep Cycle, you can track your sleep quality and how different factors are affecting it. You can even use it as an alarm and it will wake you up during the right part of your sleep cycle to ease the transition into consciousness. There are others out there, so take time to explore which one is right for you.
As your sleep quality improves, you will notice better recovery from the gym, more resilience to stress, and overall improvements in your energy levels. There are lots of different training techniques out there and there is a tonne that you can do to support healthy sleep through nutrition, but start simple. Establish your habits and grow from there.
Happy Zzzzzzzzs.
You can find more information about AltaVie and the original blog on their website.
AltaVie Health (KWIB’s Women’s Health Sponsor)
AltaVie Health Centre provides a welcoming environment for women and their families to access and
enjoy the highest quality of holistic healthcare. From naturopathic medicine and chiropractic care, to massage therapy and dietetics, we have you and your family covered all under one roof! To learn more about our practice and services, please check out our website or give us call at (778)484-4414. We look forward to welcoming you to our clinic!
