Developing Healthy Sleeping Habits

Your sleeping habits have a significant influence on how you feel during the day. Sleep is essential to good health, so as you make improvements to other areas of your health it is wise to evaluate how well you are sleeping, and to make changes to your nightly routine to set yourself up for a better night of rest.

Why Sleep Matters

Many people look at sleep as unproductive and cut hours out of their sleeping budget to squeeze in more time with friends and family, to get in a few more hours of work, or even to catch up on their favorite TV shows.

However, sleep is a fundamental component of a healthy lifestyle. Without it, you may put yourself at a heightened risk for a collection of serious health concerns.

Poor sleeping habits increase your risk for health problems like:

• Obesity
• Type-2 Diabetes
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Weakened immune system
• Common colds

Sleep Disorders

Sometimes, the intention to sleep is there but the ability to sleep well is not. This is the case for millions of people who struggle with sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea. If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep at night, speak with Dr. Kerendian about your sleeping habits and concerns.

Learning to Sleep Healthier

Your habits play a role in your ability to sleep soundly night after night. Developing a routine with poor sleeping habits can prove difficult to break, especially when large amount of caffeine or poorly timed naps are involved.

You can improve your sleeping habits with the following healthy habits:

• Set a regular bed time and go to bed at this time every day of the week, including weekends
• Wake up at the same time seven days a week
• If you are going to take a nap, plan it for the middle of the day so it doesn’t interrupt your ability to fall asleep later
• Reduce or eliminate your caffeine consumption, especially later in the day
• Exercise about one hour before going to bed, or in the morning to help you wake up

Making healthy changes like these to your lifestyle can significantly improve your sleeping habits, which may help you feel more energetic throughout the day.