Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Sleep is also consistently and increasingly recognized as important to public health. Insufficient sleep can be linked to automobile accidents, industrial disasters, or other occupational hazards, which is why the importance of sleep always seems to be stressed.
According the United States’ leading public health organizations, sleep, or lack there of, is considered a public concern and epidemic. Unfortunately, the number of people who suffer from insufficient sleep is rising. Despite the amount of research that backs these organizations’ claims, there are plenty of people who think minimal sleep is no big deal.
If you want to live a healthier, safer lifestyle, you need to more sleep. Take a look at these four things you should never do before you go to sleep, if you want to get enough.
1. Get on Social Media
Updating your status on Facebook, adding that picture to Instagram, or snapchatting your friends are all included. Smartphones and computer monitors stimulate the brain, which is the opposite of what you want to do when you’re getting ready to go to bed.
These devices produce blue light, which can interrupt the body’s sleep/wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. Leave your phone alone until morning.
2. Eat Sugary, Fatty, or Spicy Foods
The more sugar or fat we have in our bodies, the more energy our bodies need to burn in order to get rid of the excess calories. Eating these foods before we sleep just makes it harder to do so, and it forces our bodies to store the calories for later, producing fat. Spicy foods can cause acid reflux, which will only get worse while laying down.
3. Drink or Eat Caffeine
Caffeine is highly stimulating, as most of us know, and has the power to keep us awake much longer than we want. Caffeine is one of the most addictive substances out there, and it needs to be consumed in moderation.
Even decaffeinated coffee has traces of caffeine, although it’s a much smaller amount than a normal cup, it can still keep you awake.
4. Not Having a Bedtime Routine
Routines get our bodies used to a specific time. For instance, if you always do the same things before you go to bed in the same order, your body will already be aware that it’s time to go to sleep. You might even feel yourself getting tired while you’re brushing your teeth or reading a book. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, find a routine that works for you.
source and courtesy: dailyvibes.org