Tips for Better Sleep (Sleep Awareness Week)

 

Image from The National Sleep Foundation

Once again, it is Sleep Awareness Week. Since the pandemic, more people have been consuming more alcohol to help them fall asleep. However, consuming alcohol disrupts the body’s internal clock that regulates the sleep and the wake cycle. This is also called the Circadian rhythms which is a twenty-four-hour cycle that the body uses to function well. Consuming alcohol makes it worse at night especially if you suffer from insomnia, depression, or anxiety.

Alcohol will make you have a bad mood the next day. In addition, you might wake up in the middle of the night. Another drink that should not be consumed at night are energy drinks. Energy drinks have too much sugar and too much caffeine. Drinking something that is caffeine free with your dinner will help your body to get ready for the sleep cycle.

Avoiding alcohol, energy drinks, sodas, and coffee at night might improve your sleep. Stop all drinks four or five hours before going to sleep. Drink cherry juice or a decaffeinated sleepy time tea with your dinner at home. Eat walnuts, cheese, or a slice of turkey to stimulate the brain for sleep. Here are more resources about improving your sleep.  

Sleep Infographic from The National Sleep Foundation

Making Time for Sleep-Tips:

https://www.thensf.org/making-time-for-sleep-tips/

Alcohol and Sleep-What You Need to Know:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201801/alcohol-and-sleep-what-you-need-know

Circadian Rhythm-What it is, How it works, and More:

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/circadian-rhythm#out-of-sync