I Tracked My Sleep for 28 Days and Ran 2 Experiments To Improve My Recovery— Here’s What Happened

A comprehensive overview of my experience, lessons learned, best practices, and whether it was worth it

Photo by Marcus Aurelius on Pexels

Sleep more.

Besides eating a healthier diet, avoiding toxic habits like smoking, and being more active, experts recommend we sleep more to feel better and live longer.

I, however, have always struggled with this advice.

I often need to visit the bathroom in the middle of the night. I’ve struggled with long periods of nightmarish insomnia. And I rarely feel fully rested once the morning comes.

This is why I’ve spent countless hours researching ways to improve my sleep quality. Little by little, I’ve incorporated the habits experts recommend for better sleep. I:

• No longer drink caffeine past 2 PM.
• Ensure I finish dinner at least 2 hours before bedtime.
• Limit liquid intake an hour before going to sleep.
• Sleep in a dark, comfortable, and cool bedroom.
• Avoid strenuous exercise before bed.
• Try — as best as possible — to stick to a regular sleep schedule.