Getting a good night’s sleep is an important thing to ensure good health, but so many Americans struggle to get the recommended 8 hours a night.
Even if you are asleep for 8 hours, all of that time might not be true restful sleep. Sleepless nights plague many of us, whether you cannot shut off your brain or you have sleep apnea. It is also likely you have your sleep interrupted by a child who has a nightmare or a partner who is up and down a lot throughout the night. Whatever the reason, you deserve to get a good night’s sleep.
Benefits of a good night’s sleep
If you are rested, you perform better throughout your day. You are more likely to have increased focus and production at work if you are rested. Lack of sleep can bleed into not only your work life but also into your relationships.
When you are tired, no doubt you are more irritable and less patient towards those around you. Getting enough sleep can even help you burn fat naturally, helping you maintain and healthy weight. When you are sleep deprived, you may tend to crave sweet foods unnecessarily.
Having a good sleep regime is hard for many people, but there are things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep.
Do what is right for your lifestyle
Some people find that having a nightly routine can help them sleep more soundly. Try drinking a glass of warm water or milk before bedtime.
Reading in bed can help your brain shut off from your day and help you drift off to sleep. White noise machines or a ceiling fan can cancel out background noise to help you fall asleep and stay in a state of rest throughout the night.
Supplements such as melatonin or CBD oil are natural sleep aids that are not addictive and help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Melatonin occurs naturally in everyone, and if you have trouble sleeping, your body just may not produce enough of it naturally.
Taking a supplement will even aid in natural production. What is CBD oil? CBD is cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis, or marijuana. CBD contains trace amounts of THC, so it is not psychoactive and is therapeutic for many ailments, from epilepsy to insomnia.
How to treat sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder when your breathing interrupts your sleep. This is caused by a blockage to your airway or when the brain fails to signal your muscles to breathe. Sleep apnea is not uncommon. When your breath interrupts sleep, you are also not getting enough oxygen.
Using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, known as CPAP, is a mask that helps you breathe when you sleep.
Ensuring your CPAP is clean is just as important as using one. A CPAP cleaner will not only keep your machine running efficiently, but it could keep you from getting sick. No matter what interrupts your sleep, find a solution that works for you. Your body, workplace, and friends will thank you.