How much and the quality of sleep we get is something we don’t often think about but should be.
Sleep is an important part of our day where our body and mind get to rest and recharge. The quality of sleep that you get can greatly influence your overall health and your body’s ability to fight off diseases. Meaning that if we get inadequate sleep, it can greatly affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.
Many factors affect our ability to get a good night’s sleep and developing good sleep habits can help ensure that we do.
Let’s break it down into seven steps.
First step. Establish a consistent bedtime, even on the weekends.
Step two. Have a comfortable temperature and low lighting to set the “mood” and help promote sleep.
Step three. Ensure that your mattress, pillows, and sheets match your sleep preferences and body type.
Step four. This one we have heard before, but it is always worth mentioning, limit your screen time for up to one hour before bed.
Step five. Leading up to bedtime avoid or limit the amount of caffeine, alcohol, and food you consume.
Step six. Avoid the use of tobacco.
Step seven. Get some exercise during the day! Having a daily exercise routine can help your body to wind down in the evenings.
Did you know that the typical adult requires between seven and nine hours of nightly sleep? And children and teenagers need much more!
What strategies do you do to help you fall asleep? Visit www.sleepfoundation.org to learn about how sleep works and why we need sleep.
For more information about any of the free services offered by the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, visit www.mmfht.ca or call the Drayton/Palmerston office at 519-638-2110 or Clifford office at 519-327-4777.
Follow the FHT on social media for healthy living tips and information on upcoming programs and events in the area.