
Three Ways to Improve Your Sleep Tonight
Disclosure: You're probably not getting enough Z's.
If you're finding it hard to sleep lately, you're not alone. Working longer hours and taking on more family commitments has created a sleep deprivation crisis. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 42% of Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep and a recent study revealed almost 30% of American adults are getting six hours or less of sleep per night. And that was before the stress of dealing with a pandemic. That lack of sleep can increase the risk of disease, not to mention have a negative mental effect. Luckily, there are a few key steps you can take to start catching some more restful zzz's. Here are three:
- Use a sleep calculator
- Unplug before bed
Find yourself watching TV or scrolling through social media to unwind at the end of the day but then have trouble sleeping? The reason is the blue light emitted from those screens suppresses the body’s secretion of melatonin, which helps regulate your circadian rhythm. That's why it's important to shut off all devices at least an hour -- ideally this would be two-to-three hours -- before bedtime. This allows for the natural hormone production to occur and, therefore, a better night's sleep. - Control the light