When you have a bad night’s sleep, you probably think back to the previous evening and try to work out what went wrong. You might wonder whether you went to bed too early, whether your room was too warm, or whether you need to replace your pillow. However, you might be looking for answers in all the wrong places. If you want a good night’s sleep, you need to lay the groundwork from the moment you wake up.
In this article, you will learn exactly what you must do in the morning, afternoon and evening to optimize your precious sleep time. Implement the steps in this article and you will wake feeling much more energetic every morning.
Make your mornings count
Let’s start at the very beginning – the snooze button. Your mission is to stop using it to delay getting out of bed, because all it does is confuse your body. It’s far better to get up at precisely the same time every day, in order to set up a regular sleep/wake pattern.[1] If you need an extra boost to get you up in the morning, asking yourself a few simple questions about the day ahead can make all the difference.
Resist the temptation to down a cup of coffee just after waking up. Wait until 10am before having your first shot of caffeine, because this is when your cortisol and energy levels start to dip. However, you should definitely eat a good breakfast. Eating a meal high in proteins and carbohydrates at the same time every day helps regulate your circadian rhythm.[2] With a little foresight and creativity, anyone can put together a quick and healthy breakfast. There are lots of tasty vegan options out there too.
Keep the momentum going in the afternoon
Choose your lunch with care. Avoid loading up on too many carbohydrates, because they will make you drowsy in the afternoon and disrupt your sleep cycle.[3] Cutting down on lunchtime carbohydrates may mean making some adjustments, but there are plenty of low and no-carb lunch solutions you can try. If you still feel the need to nap, keep them short. As the afternoon goes on you need to resist the temptation to eat lots of carbs and protein, because doing so triggers your body into setting itself up for action rather than rest.[4]
How to set yourself up for sleep in the evening
The golden rule is to go to bed at the same time every night, as this preserves your circadian rhythm. Avoid saturated fats[5], particularly during the evening, because research indicates that they have an adverse effect on your sleep-wake cycle. Meditating before you go to sleep will help you relax, and prepare your body for high-quality rest. Finally, sleeping in a cool room will also help ensure a sound slumber.
Little hacks to help you sleep throughout the night
If you suffer anxiety or insomnia, you may want to invest in a weighted blanket – research shows that they help those with these conditions enjoy a better night’s sleep. Your sleeping position can also have a direct impact on how you feel the next day. Specifically, sleeping on your left side benefits your heart, back and digestive system. Finally, think about what you wear in bed. Did you know that people who sleep naked reap numerous health benefits such as lower rates of skin disease and a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes? What’s more, it makes life easier. You will have fewer items to launder each week!
Follow these steps to enjoy the best night’s sleep of your life. A good rest is essential for mental and physical health, so it’s worth taking the time to review your sleep hygiene.
Reference
| [1] | ^ | HuffPost: Why Hitting The Snooze Button Will Screw Up Your Entire Day |
| [2] | ^ | Prevention: Eat Your Way To Better Sleep |
| [3] | ^ | HuffPost: Sleepy After Lunch? We Found Out Exactly Why It Happens |
| [4] | ^ | Prevention: Eat Your Way To Better Sleep |
| [5] | ^ | Prevention: Eat Your Way To Better Sleep |
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