4 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Sleep

Each person’s sleep patterns and needs are different. This is well known. So, it makes sense that a lot of people sabotage their sleep in different ways. Are you one of them?

According to a 2016 study by the University of Michigan, Americans spend around eight hours in bed every night, as do folks in Britain, France, and Canada. But despite what seems like a decent amount of time in bed, most of us still don’t get enough sleep. What the heck? Sleep quality is more important than quantity, and our world is full of barriers to getting good sleep — from screens to schedules to caffeine. Overall, it is lifestyle habits that prevent so many from getting the amount of sleep necessary for a productive day.

Lifestyle habits absolutely do play a leading role in quality of sleep, or lack thereof. So the first thing you should do is analyze your patterns and environment. The Cleveland Clinic recommends these tips for good sleep "hygiene":

*  Not going to bed until you are tired

*  Setting a regular schedule to get up in the morning, even on weekends

*  Not napping during the day

*  Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine at night

*  Not watching TV, eating, or reading in bed

*  Following the same bedtime rituals each night

*  Avoiding rigorous exercise three hours before bedtime

*  Getting out of bed when you can't fall asleep

Frequently, when we cannot fall asleep, tossing and turning occurs. This restless activity can likely be alleviated by simply using a different mattress and/or pillow.

The Atlas memory foam mattress is made using thoroughly tested memory foam that helps eliminate nervous tension caused from common head, neck, and shoulder pain. These ailments keep you awake and unrested. How old is your mattress? Is it perhaps time to consider entertaining the purchase of a new one?

It is possible that your mattress isn’t the issue, but instead your pillow. The Dual Option cooling gel memory foam pillow is a scientifically-designed pillow with a quilted gel layer that has been carefully constructed to keep you cool, and stay cool, all night long. This soothing gel works with our ventilated memory foam to provide a cool and refreshing sleeping experience so you stay comfortable, and more importantly, asleep.

Having the proper sleeping tools for quality rest will help you relax and fall asleep faster. You might even be excited when bedtime rolls around!

As stated above, “glowing box” is a culprit of sleep deprivation. The television is kind of a double whopper when it comes to sleep disruption. Not only does it blast out blue light, but it also makes noise, which can disturb you even after you’ve nodded off. If you're not prepared to go cold turkey on the TV, you can at least limit its potential negative effects. Turning the brightness down and setting the timer to shut it off after you fall asleep are two great ways to ensure you are not having interrupted sleep due to the boob tube. If you have a comfortable bed and pillow, the need to relax with a TV may become a thing of the past. Who needs to watch TV when there are much more interesting “things” to watch, such as your dreams.