We spend over a third of our lives under the covers, but we rarely think about how essential it is to our health and daily functioning. Check out these little tidbits about sleep. Hopefully, they'll encourage you to think more about the amount and quality of your time in bed.
- Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep every night in order to function well during the day. Not getting enough ZZZs can compromise your immune system, which may make it easier for you to get sick. Not getting enough sleep may also make it harder to lose or maintain a healthy weight, and it's not good for your heart health either.
- Feeling sleepy midafternoon? Go ahead and take a 20-minute power nap. It'll help you feel more energized for the rest of the day, and studies show that it doesn't affect your ability to fall asleep later that night.
- If you have a difficult time getting to sleep, try to ditch the caffeine in your diet. Also make sure to get heart-pumping exercise during the day to use up some of your extra energy.
To hear more about getting a good night's sleep, read more
- Playing on your computer or watching TV right before bed can affect the quality of sleep. Studies from Japan report that even if you do get enough hours of sleep, you won't feel rested the next day. So try to do something relaxing before bedtime like reading a book, stretching, taking the dog for a gentle stroll, or sipping warm chamomile tea.
- If you suffer from back pain while you sleep, a hard mattress isn't necessarily an instant remedy. People have different preferences, so you may need to try out different types of mattresses, including those that are soft, firm, and body conforming, to find the one that offers you the best night's sleep.
Fit's Tip: I know it's tempting to sleep in on the weekends, but it's best to stick to your regular sleeping schedule. Sleeping in on Sundays, will only make you feel extra sleepy Monday morning.
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? Totally agree about the not sleeping in thing- I never want to go to bed then on Sun night and Monday A.M.'s are a blur!
) it's funny how people differ, watching tv is the best way for me to take a nap, noice is so soothing... when it stops i wake up.
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