The Key to Sleeping Better
By: Saniya
Sleep is one of the most important factors that contribute to your health, but increasingly, its importance is being sidelined and ignored by today’s teens.
While sleep is important at any age, sleep for teens is especially important. It is recommended that teens receive 8–10 hours of sleep a night, a number that is often ignored. Sleep is an essential function, with sleep deprivation actually being a form of torture. While stress, anxiety, and heavy workloads contribute to a lack of sleep, it’s important to remember that sleeping properly is key to your success. Short-term effects being reduced concentration, short-term memory problems, and increased stress, among others. Long-term effects include a higher risk of medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart disease, poor mental health, and even an early death. It’s clear that sleep is important but there are a few things that you can do to sleep better.
How to Improve Your Sleep:
- Have a strict and consistent sleeping schedule
Sleep at around the same time everyday, even on weekends to get a proper night’s sleep. Also having the same or similar routine before going to bed is helpful to induce sleep faster.
2. Have a good mattress and wash your bedsheets often
Having good sleep hygiene is important. Having a good mattress and washing your sheets will help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep.
3. Don’t look at any gadgets 30 minutes before sleeping
If you do need to use a gadget right before sleeping, turn on the night light function, which is now found on many gadgets such as phones, laptops, and computers. Research has suggested that blue light may delay or disrupt one’s sleep. The night light function diminishes the blue light emitting from the screen by switching to warmer colors.
4. Reduce caffeine usage
Reducing your caffeine intake or avoiding drinking coffee after 5 pm can help you sleep longer and earlier.
5. Exercise
Exercising during the daytime can burn some of your energy off and help you fall asleep.
