When it comes to sleep, there’s nothing more important for improving your memory, mood, and even productivity. Beyond that, a lack of sleep can even lower your immune system and leave you vulnerable to illness and even injury.
As such, prioritizing your sleep can be one of the best actions you ever take. Unfortunately, as many as one out of three Americans say that they are sleep deprived on a regular basis.
If that wasn’t enough to leave you questioning your sleep habits, not only does the length of your sleep matter, but also the quality of your sleep. In order to feel completely rested when you wake up, you should be entering a deep sleep known as REM. So, how can you improve your overall quality of sleep and feel better once and for all? Read on to find out.
Table of Contents
Use White Noise
If you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep because of outside noise like neighbors, or passing cars, then you may want to consider white noise. White noise can be anything from actual static sounds, to ocean noises. If you’re someone who enjoys playing the piano, perhaps putting on relaxing piano meditation music can help you drown out the outside noise and sleep deeper.
Ideally, you should listen with headphones to get the maximum benefits that white noise has to offer.
Create a Schedule
Our bodies have internal clocks that listen to what we tell them. If you create a schedule for yourself then your body will start to pay attention to it. Make a commitment to go to bed at the same time every single night.
Even if you aren’t tired, after a while, your body will start to fall into the habit of getting tired at this hour. Remember, going to bed doesn’t mean laying there and scrolling on your phone for two hours. Going to bed means laying down in a dark environment with no stimulation..
Avoid Caffeine
Many people, particularly in European cultures, enjoy a nice cup of coffee following a meal. Unfortunately, this can significantly impact your sleep. Even a decaf coffee has a small amount of caffeine in it. So, for those people who are especially sensitive to caffeine, Drinking caffeinated or non caffeinated drinks can be detrimental for your sleep rhythm.
Get a Good Mattress
It doesn’t matter how tired you are, if you’re sleeping on a poor quality mattress that hurts your back, then you’re not going to reach a deep sleep. Even though a new mattress can be a significant investment, it’s the best way to feel rested and avoid back problems later in life. If you manage to invest in the right mattress, you could find that it lasts for over 10 years and is well worth the purchase.