More Tips on Sleeping Well, part 2
/As a follow up to last week's blog post on tips for sleeping well, I wanted to share a recent article on the same topic. This article discusses 12 ways to improve your "sleep hygiene" (which is just a fancy way of saying anything that helps your sleep). I'm excited that some of the tips I've shared with you last week are included in this article! I will offer a quick snapshot of the ways to improve your sleep, but also suggest you read the full article for more detail.
Tip #1 to improve your sleep hygiene: Go to sleep at the same time every day
Ideally, your sleep/wake time shouldn't vary by more than one hour. Yes, I know that you look forward to sleeping til noon on a Saturday, but in the big picture of "sleep", this can do more harm than good. Try to wake up and go to sleep at about the same time every day.
Tip #2: Reserve your bed for sleep (and sex)
Don't watch tv in bed, or do work in bed, because then your brain will associate your bed with more stimulating things than sleep.
Tip #3: Unplug
This is one of my biggest suggestions (see my #5 tip)! Turn off electronics to allow your body the opportunity to naturally produce melatonin, which will cause you to feel sleepy.
Tip #4: Be active during the day
Living an active lifestyle, or exercising can help you to sleep better.
Tip #5: Watch what you eat (and drink) at night
The mental health therapists at our office offer counseling for a variety of issues including trauma using EMDR, depression, anxiety, grief, and couples counseling. We work with teens, adults, and couples. We also offer online counseling services which can be great for people with busy schedules or for people who live in parts of Pennsylvania with limited counseling options. You can check out our website to see the full list of counseling services that we offer. Or, Request An Appointment here.