Sleep is one of the most important elements to our general health and well being as much as food, water and air are to our bodies, yet we cheat ourselves of sleep more often than any other bodily need. Depriving yourself of sleep can cause you many problems including the lowering of your body’s immune system which makes you more susceptible to illness.
Not getting enough sleep also causes irritability and who needs that? Getting good sleep doesn’t just mean keeping your eyes closed for eight hours. If you don’t have the proper conditions to sleep in your sleep will be poor and if you don’t follow a schedule you could be laying there with your eyes open for quite some time trying to fall asleep.
Sleep is part of your body’s cycle and as such, it needs to be a regularly scheduled event which is about the same every day. If you want a good sleep at night, be sure to get up early enough in the morning that you will actually be tired when it is time to get to sleep.
If you don’t wake up until 9 or 10, you won’t be tired when it’s time for bed. The earlier you wake up the more tired you’ll be when it’s time to turn in and the more tired you are, the faster you’ll fall asleep and the sounder you will sleep.
Make sure you have a mattress that is right for your body. If you’re not sure about what kind of mattress suits you, you might try one that is adjustable like an air or water mattress that can be made more firm or softer to suit your taste.
If you can, ask friends or family if you can ‘try out’ their bed for a night to see how you sleep on different types of mattresses.
Try not to take any sort of medication before bed, especially medicine that is labeled as non-drowsy. Medication can cause sleepless nights and should only be taken if absolutely necessary.
Put shades or blinds down to keep out the morning light and you will be less likely wakened prematurely in the morning: every minute counts!
