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For many people, the idea of waking up to start the day and feel rested and refreshed is far from a reality. Instead, a large number of people wake up feeling tired and sluggish thanks to poor quality sleep. The way it works is that the better the sleep you have, the deeper your sleep is. When you are unable to get into that deep state of sleep, you suffer from poor quality sleep.
So, how can you tell if your sleep is suffering? Besides waking up and not feeling rested and refreshed, you will likely have a hard time staying alert and awake all day long, and you probably wake often through the night. If you are looking for ways to improve the quality of your sleep, then these five tips are meant for you.
Take a Look at Your Mattress
A good place to start is to assess the state of your mattress, keeping in mind that the typical lifespan for a mattress is 10 years. If you are approaching that point or have gone past it, age alone could determine whether it’s time to replace your mattress. But, even if the mattress isn’t old, it just may not be the best type of mattress for your needs.
Before rushing out to purchase a new mattress, you will want to check out the mattress reviews on https://sleepsherpa.com/mattress-reviews/. All the major categories are covered, and this can help you narrow down your best your options.
Don’t Eat or Drink Anything before Bed that Can Mess with Your Sleep
It’s also a good idea to be mindful of what you eat and drink before bed. You want to steer clear of items that may interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Typical items that can cause problems are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Caffeine is a stimulant, so clearly, it’s not going to help you to get into that restful state, while alcohol starts to take on stimulant effects a few hours after consumption.
Make Sure Your Room is Conducive for Sleeping
You also want to make sure you do what you can to set yourself up for success. This means creating a room that is calming and encourages sleep. Blackout curtains can be extremely helpful, as well as white noise, and keeping the room cool but not cold.
Create Your Own Bedtime Routine
A bedtime routine is something people set up for the kids but don’t always realize it can benefit them too. A bedtime routine means you go about calming and soothing activities in the hour before bed, and you make sure to go to sleep at the same time every night. This will help you develop a pattern that your body recognizes.
Cut Out the Naps
While it may seem like a nap during the middle of the day is just what you need, in fact it’s probably doing more harm than good. It can make you even more restless come bedtime.
Each of these tips will work together to help you enjoy a more restful sleep.
