Essential Guide to Sleep

It might seem obvious, but if you find you are often more tired than not, you probably need more sleep. Creating a simple routine helps you sleep better and benefits your overall health, and this guide to sleep can help.

Among the detrimental effects of inadequate sleep are diminished alertness, concentration and psychomotor function, plus insufficient sleep is associated with hormonal changes that can lead to increased appetite and weight gain. Additionally, there is evidence of immune system impairment leading to increased susceptibility to infection.

The good news is developing a healthy sleep routine doesn’t take long — a few weeks at most — and it results in long-lasting health benefits. Athletes may notice increased performance due to improved recovery during sleep, and people watching their weight may find adequate sleep helps them lose weight.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”HEX 0073bb” class=”” size=””] Sleep is the fountain of youth, wellness, health and peak performance, mentally and physically,”
— Charlene Gamaldo, MD, medical director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep [/perfectpullquote]

Your nighttime routine doesn’t have to be elaborate; here are the three things you should do to get a better night’s sleep.

1. SET — AND KEEP — A BEDTIME

It’s best to go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day. Fluctuating sleep and wake times can wreak havoc on your body and throw off your sleep quality.

The ideal time to go to sleep is between 10 and 11 p.m., as it may promote more slow-wave sleep, which is the deeply restorative stage of sleep. For athletes, this is especially relevant, as it can enhance your recovery.

If your schedule isn’t the same day-to-day and setting a consistent time for sleep seems impossible — or is constantly interrupted — you should at least try to get an adequate amount of sleep. For adults, that means 6.5–8 hours of sleep. Increased mortality has been observed in adults getting less than 6.5 hours and more than 8 hours of sleep per night.

2. PRACTICE GOOD SLEEP HYGIENE

Sleep hygiene also refers to what you do before bed. Abstaining from tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, strenuous exercise and stimulating mental activity in the hours leading up to bedtime is a good idea.

For those who prefer to work out at night — or whose schedules only allow for post-work workouts — moving them to the late afternoon is beneficial when it comes to sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, our bodies are regulated by both the sleep/wake homeostasis and the circadian biological clock. That biological clock is what causes us to feel periods of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day. In the afternoon, this dip most often occurs between 1 and 3 p.m., so working out after that window can help you feel re-energized (because, after all, a runner’s high is a real thing).

3. DITCH TECHNOLOGY

This may be the hardest step for you to follow; even harder than ending a night out early to get to sleep at your regular time. However, limiting your exposure to technology — and keeping it out of the bed with you — will help you sleep better.

Best case scenario: Do your bathroom routine and then read non work-related material in low light, ideally not in bed. If nothing else, avoid blue light from your smartphone, tablet or computer 1–2 hours before bed.

Reading a book — yes, those still exist in paperback and hardcover — is best; doing so out of bed is even better. Limiting your activities in bed throughout the day can help signal to your brain that when you get into bed it is time to sleep and not just to relax.

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This Is Your Body on Sleep Deprivation

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Does Sleep Deprivation Really Impact Weight Loss?

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READ MORE ESSENTIAL GUIDES

> Getting Moving
> Walking and Steps
> Losing Weight