Why You May Not Be Getting Good Sleep and 6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Sleeping Habits

Why You May Not Be Getting Good Sleep and 6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Sleeping Habits

Nearly 20% of Americans report either not getting enough sleep or not getting good sleep.

‘Sleep deficiency’ or a lack of good sleep affects Americans of all age groups and can have a big impact on your immediate ability to perform, and also impact your health long term if not addressed.

As sleep deficiency increases it can lead to a condition called called ‘sleep deprivation’. Sleep deprivation is a more specific condition and means that the person is not getting enough sleep. In contrast, sleep deficiency is a less specific (more situations qualify) condition that refers to any kind of sleep that is inadequate. Examples of sleep deficiency would be someone that gets poor sleep or perhaps sleeps during the day and is up at night.

Have you ever fallen asleep accidentally?

Almost 40% of American adults reported accidentally falling asleep during the day at least once a month. Can you relate?

In addition to not getting enough hours of sleep at night, you can also do other things to throw off your sleep. Here are examples of additional poor sleeping habits:

• Sleeping at the wrong time of day (your body has a natural internal clock that it likes to follow)

• Sleeping for too long

• Not getting good sleep

• Not sleeping for long enough

• Interrupted sleep (waking up or being woken often)

No matter what your challenges are with sleep, it’s important that you correct them sooner than later.

Not getting enough sleep can negatively impact your emotional and physical health. People lacking sleep are found to be more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to name a few. They are also more likely to be overweight or obese since sleep helps balance hormones that are responsible for feelings of hunger. Those are more long term impacts that sleep deficiency can have on your physical health. It can also greatly impact your brain health too.

Your brain is responsible for your ability to function overall and your ability to maintain your emotional health. It needs sleep to perform well which is why tired people are commonly associated with also being cranky or angry. Your emotional health is impacted by sleep and so is your ability to perform daily functions. Safety is at risk when people lack sleep. In fact, a lack of sleep has been scientifically linked to an increased risk of injury. Science shows that losing 1-2 hours of sleep a night for multiple nights has the same impact on your body as losing an entire night or two of sleep. Wild, right? When you put it like that then it’s easier to understand how a lack of sleep can have serious consequences on your day to day functions and also greatly impact your health.

Did you know that while you’re sleeping you’re body is actually healing?

Imagine your body as a cellphone that is plugged into the wall to charge. As your body rests it is also ‘charging’ and getting prepared for the next day. Make sure you’re charging your body well by getting a good night’s rest.

Let’s dive a bit deeper and discuss ways to improve your sleep. Here are some tips to help you practice healthy sleeping habits:

• Aim for consistency by creating a nighttime routine

• Leave all electronics outside of the bedroom

• Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day

• Leave anything that reminds you of work, cleaning, working out, or other tasks outside of the bedroom. The bedroom is for sleeping only.

• Avoid caffeine after 2 pm.

• Meditate a few minutes before bedtime. This will help clear your mind and relieve anxiety that may be keeping you up at night.

Looking for more tips or ways to practice healthy sleeping habits so you can sleep better? Send me a message or check out these Sleep Well resources by clicking here.

Did you try these tips, babes?

Let me know how these tips and resources work out for you by sending me an email or shooting me a message on Instagram @WellwithBrielle. I would also love to hear any  of your own tips about what has worked for you!

Source: NIH

Let’s Connect on Instagram, Babes! Follow me @WellwithBrielle