There’s nothing worse than getting a bad night’s sleep. If you’re having trouble getting the right amount of shuteye, it might have something to do with your daily routine. Here’s a look at habits that can interfere with your sleep.
1. Eating a large meal before bed
If you eat a full meal within an hour or so of going to bed, your bowel and bladder will likely wake you up in the middle of the night. Make sure your dinner is 3-4 hours before bed to make sure it can settle.
2. Sitting in bed awake
If you can’t sleep, staying in bed might not be the best idea. If you can’t get to sleep, consider reading or even moving to another room. If you stay in your bed and you can’t get to sleep, you might start to associate your bed with frustration rather than relaxation.
3. Taking long naps
Are you a napper? If you’re having trouble sleeping, the nap could be the culprit. If you must nap, stick to no more than 20 minutes to recharge. Ideally, you’ll eliminate the nap and get more restorative sleep at night.
4. Using the bedroom as a multi-purpose room
Believe it or not, spending too much time in the room you sleep in can cause sleep problems. If you’re gaming, reading, and exercising in your room before bedtime, for example, you can get tired of the room. Try to do pre-bedtime activities in another room and reserve the bedroom for relaxation and sleeping.
5. Staying active up until you go to bed
Are you constantly moving? If you’re always on the go, it could be messing with your sleep. Your body needs time to calm down before it can ease into sleep. Spend 30 to 60 minutes doing a calming activity that gets your body ready for bed, like reading or listening to light music.
