It’s been proven that adults need around eight hours of sleep per night, but on average, most Americans get less than seven hours per night. Whether it’s due to stress, distractions or wandering minds, a lack of sleep can interfere with work, social activities and health habits. Here are a few lifestyle changes I recommend making to help you fulfill those eight hours.
The first is to be more conscious about what’s going into your body.
- Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can improve energy levels during the day and tire the body at night, contributing to a healthy sleep cycle.
- Don’t eat your heaviest meal at night. Rich meals filled with high-fat foods take a lot of time and effort for your stomach to digest, which can keep you awake longer.
- Try to avoid that caffeine pick-up after lunch. Caffeine can block the cell receptors that are used to trigger sleep signals, tricking the body into thinking that it’s not tired.
The second is to consider Feng Shui-ing your bedroom.
- Where you sleep has a tremendous impact on your personal energy. I have met with a Feng Shui consultant and while it may sound kooky, when sleep becomes an issue and nothing else works, you have nothing to lose. Move that bed so that it doesn’t feel stuck in the room. If there is a bathroom attached, let the foot of your bed face the bathroom and the side of the bed face the hallway door.
Another thing I really enjoy is listening to soothing sounds.
- I’d venture to say that a sports game or a violent movie blasting from the television won’t put you in a very relaxing mood. I personally HOMEDICS Sound Machine which plays, waterfalls, rain, summer nights, ocean and the rainforest.
See? There are many small changes that can be made in order to improve your sleep habits. Give one of them a try tonight.
