It's rough those first few days after the Daylight Savings spring ahead. What a great time to be reminded that sleep is key to your health!
Huffington Post recently told us 8 Scary Side Effects of Too Little Shut-Eye. On the list are increased risk of stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, and permanent memory loss. Yikes!
Here are six quick and easy tips to promote good rest:
1. Make it a habit.
Keep your sleep schedule the same throughout the week, even on the weekend. This trains your body to rest well, and it will help you be more tuned in when something's up with your body.
2. Have a snack before bed.
A light snack can help, according to WebMD. A small bowl of cereal or toast, for instance.
3. Cut out the caffeine 6 to 8 hours before bed!
4. Get a sound machine or a box fan to help drown out distracting noises. Or a soothing, ambient playlist may be a nice way to help you initially fall asleep.
5. Just get up and go.
If you're having that internal debate of whether or not you really need to use the bathroom, just go. It's better to go one last time before bed than to interrupt your nightly nap.
6. Leave the electronics an hour before bed.
TV screens, laptops, cell phones, and tablets emit blue light waves, which fights fatigue—the very thing you're going for with that whole sleep thing. Read a book instead!
