Many of us do not get enough sleep. Experts say that most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep and that getting less than six hours of sleep can bring on negative side effects to one’s health. There is a lot of information out there about improving sleep, so let’s take a look at a few tips for sleeping better.
Take Care Tip Tuesday: Quality Sleep is an article about sleep written for caregivers. This article offers the following tips for improving your sleep that are helpful for everyone, not just caregivers: (To read more details about each tip, click on the link to the article.)
1. Get into a routine – Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday.
2. Cut out naps – A short (20 minutes) nap can be helpful, but skip the naps if you are having trouble sleeping at night.
3. Exercise – Even 10 minutes of exercise can help relieve stress, but avoid exercise 2 – 3 hours before bedtime.
4. Watch what you eat and drink – Avoid caffeine, nicotine, heavy meals, alcohol, and excessive liquids before bedtime.
5. Check the environment – Your room should be cool and dark and make sure the blinking lights on your electronics can’t be seen.
Under the “environment” tip, is the suggestion to, “Make sure your bed is comfortable.” The most important aspect of that tip is to make sure you have a comfortable mattress. An old, worn-out innerspring mattress is an absolute no-no. If you are thinking about a new mattress to improve your sleep, three high quality mattresses to look at are the memory foam mattress, the natural latex mattress, and the air bed. At Healthy Foundations, we sell memory foam, but we want to you to be as informed about your mattress options as possible. In addition to our Guide to Memory Foam, check out our buyer’s guides for air beds and latex mattresses.