A good night’s sleep is essential for physical recovery, cognitive function, and overall health, but you already know that. What you may not be aware of are the little habits that are preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep. Avoid doing these 5 things before bed.
Drink alcohol
Alcohol often makes you sleepy, so drink a glass of wine before bed. But this habit reduces the quality of your sleep. Specifically, alcohol reduces the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, depriving your body of the recovery it needs.
Use of electronic devices
You’ve probably heard it over and over again, but that’s because it’s true. The types of light emitted by smartphones, laptops, and televisions send signals to your brain that promote wakefulness. This makes it harder for you to fall asleep and reduces the amount of time you spend in deep sleep.
Eating certain foods
There’s nothing wrong with snacking before bed, but eating a large meal right before bed can make it harder to fall asleep. Because large or fatty foods take longer to digest, this type of bedtime snack can make your body work and disrupt your sleep.
It is working
Exercise is a double-edged sword when it comes to sleep. Exercise is a great way to tire yourself out before bed, but it has the exact opposite effect. The trick is not to go too hard. Light exercise before bed has many benefits, but intense cardio increases your energy levels and makes it harder for your body to relax.
Working
Avoid doing work for at least an hour before bed, whether it’s catching up on email or making a to-do list for the next day. Whatever your job is, work tends to occupy our thoughts and add stress to our lives. If you start thinking about work right before bed, it will be much harder for you to organize your mind and fall asleep.
