A Better Night’s Sleep Series: Things to Avoid

There are many things to avoid in order for you to get a better night’s sleep. To get a better night’s sleep you don’t just need to lay down on the bed and hope for the best. There are some things that you can avoid that may help you to get a better night’s sleep. Here’s a quick list of some things to avoid and why when you are trying to get that better night’s sleep.

One of the things you should avoid in order to get a better night’s sleep is an irregular bedtime. Your body needs to know the signals that it is time for bed. Keeping a set bedtime and waking up at the same time will give your body those signals. Use the set bedtime and wake up at the same time every day, including the weekends. Your body will begin to ease into a nightly routine and you will fall asleep faster. Since you are waking up at a set hour your body will begin to naturally wake up at the right time. You will feel more rested and hopefully have a better night’s sleep.

Another thing to avoid in order to get a better night’s sleep is to keep all electronics out of your bedroom. Having televisions or computers in your bedroom will get your mind running. Computers can occupy more of your time than you intend and can have you missing your new bedtime. Your bedroom should be an oasis away from the pressures of the day. Having these electronics in your bedroom will distract you from sleep both consciously and unconsciously.

Caffeine is most likely one of the biggest culprits for not getting a better night’s sleep. Coffee and sodas drunk four to six hours before bedtime can interfere with getting to sleep or achieving a good night’s sleep. Not only does your daily coffee or coke have caffeine but so can other foods that you eat. Watch your intake of chocolates and teas. Caffeine can get you wired and your body and mind may not be able to rest in order for you to get a better night’s rest.

Avoid having big meals three to four hours before your bedtime. Heavy and big meals will take some time to digest and hurt your chances for getting a better night’s rest. When sleeping your body needs to be at rest as much as possible and not digesting foods.

There are certain foods that you should also avoid when trying to get a better night’s sleep. Some of these foods include cheese and nuts which can take several hours to digest and ruin your chances for gaining deep sleep that comes with a better night’s sleep.

To get a better night’s sleep you may also want to avoid taking naps. Naps will interfere with your natural body rhythm for bedtime. Naps can be taken and you can still get a better night’s sleep if you take the nap earlier in the day and make it short. Don’t nap for more than twenty to forty minutes and take the nap at least six hours before your scheduled bedtime.

A nightly drink may help you to fall asleep better but alcohol should be one of the things that you avoid in order to get a better night’s sleep. Alcohol will interfere with your sleep pattern for the night and you won’t get a better night’s sleep no matter how fast you fall asleep to begin with. If you want to have that little nightcap than you should make it earlier in the evening to get a better night’s sleep.

Nicotine should also be avoided to get a better night’s sleep. Nicotine in any form will give your body a rush and make it hard to calm down. Don’t use any nicotine at least three hours before your bedtime.