Good sleep is important to help us function every day. However, sometimes issues with sleep arise due to a combination of lifestyle choices, stress, medications, health conditions, among others.
So if you’re struggling to get some good shut-eye, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss some actionable steps on how to sleep better.
Table of Contents
1. Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
Try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day (yes, even on weekends). Doing so helps maintain the timing of your body clock, allowing you to fall asleep and wake up with more ease.
We know that this is easier said than done because life can get busy. However, good sleep is important to both your physical and mental health, so you should really prioritize it.
With little steps such as changing your sleep schedule, your overall sleep can drastically improve. It’s all about consistency, as they say.
2. Keep an active lifestyle.
Did you know that having regular exercise can help you sleep better? Studies have shown us that exercising can help with sleep-related problems such as sleep apnea and improve the overall quality of sleep.
This may be the sign to finally go through with that gym membership or join a pilates or yoga class. Some even go sign up to have personal trainers to help them with their goals.
There are also so many places to buy fitness equipment in Calgary if you want to start your home gym. The important part is that you keep moving and really incorporate working out into your lifestyle.
There are also fun activities that can also be exercise like rock climbing, going golfing, or taking up dancing.
Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be vigorous exercise. You can go for a stroll every day in the beautiful gardens Calgary has to offer.
Take a camera with you and do a nature photo walk or better yet, go with a friend. Working out doesn’t have to be torture, it can even be fun.
3. Keep a close eye on what you eat and drink (especially before bedtime).
For healthy sleep, it’s also important to monitor what you eat and drink. It’s important to cut back on sugary foods and carbs during the daytime, for example, because it can keep you awake for longer at night.
It might also be time to stop those late-night coffee runs at cafes. Caffeine intake too close to bedtime is discouraged because it can make it difficult for you to fall asleep and affect your quality of sleep.
The timing of eating is also important. Avoid heavy, rich foods for at least two hours before you have to go to sleep.
Alcohol consumption before sleep is also not encouraged. Although a nightcap from the bar might help you fall asleep faster, the alcohol might mess with your sleep cycle.
4. Manage your stress effectively.
Managing your worries can also be instrumental to healthy sleep. Residual stress from the day can make it hard to fall asleep at night.
It’s also best to check your daytime activities. Are you often distracted by your phone, checking your notifications at all times?
Being overstimulated during the day can also make it hard for you to unwind at night. It will be hard to turn off all the thoughts from the day, making it difficult to fall asleep.
It’s important to take small actionable steps to stop worrying and manage your stress. You can try writing everything down in a journal, trying relaxation techniques, and meditating.
5. Set the mood for relaxation in your sleeping area.
To aid with relaxation, it is also imperative that you set the mood in your sleeping area to make it conducive for a good night’s rest. If you can, buy a good mattress and get some humidifiers.
Turn off the lights, get some earplugs and a sleep mask. All these little changes can bring so much improvement in your ability to fall asleep.
6. Know when to consult with a doctor.
Sometimes professional help is already needed to have healthy sleep. If the problems are more severe, you can never go wrong with consulting with a sleep clinic.
They can help explain to you why you’re having problems and present solutions to ensure you get a good night’s rest.
There you have it, here are our tips for better sleep. We hope we were able to help you get decent shut-eye.
Did we miss out on any more helpful tips? Share it with us in the comments below.
By the way, here are articles on health and fitness that can come in handy:
