Introduction
Getting a restful night’s sleep is one of the most important ways to reduce stress and ensure optimal health. Without adequate sleep, you may be more likely to experience weight gain, elevated blood pressure and decreased immune function. According to Harvard Medical School, sleep difficulties are common, affecting about 75 percent of people at least a few nights every week. In this Wellness Express newsletter, we will discuss the top things you can do to build a sleep sanctuary to promote healthy and restorative sleep.
Improve Sleep Hygiene & Pre-Sleep Routine
Sleep hygiene encompasses the many different practices you can perform to experience normal, quality nighttime sleep and optimal daytime alertness. The National Sleep Foundation states that the following practices can improve your sleep hygiene and overall health: Avoiding excessive daytime napping, avoiding stimulants such consumption too close to bedtime, getting sufficient exercise (especially in the morning) and eating your largest meal around midday.
Creating a relaxing bedtime routine is another important aspect of sleep hygiene. Reading for only short periods before bed, banishing television sets, computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices from your bedroom, and avoiding emotionally charged conversations before turning in are helpful strategies to promote healthful sleep. Another important pre-sleep ritual you may find helpful and refreshing is foot washing. Washing your feet before bed feels great and helps keep your sheets clean.
Update Your Mattress and Pillows
If your mattress and pillows are getting on in age, consider updating them with newer versions. You spend about one-third of your life in bed, so choosing a healthy and comfortable mattress and pillow are among the most important long-term health investments you can make. Your chiropractor can council you on the most beneficial mattresses and pillows for your specific health situation. For optimal health, and to enhance the quality of your sleep sanctuary, consider mattresses and pillows constructed from natural materials. Certain materials, such as natural latex and wool, do not off-gas (unlike petrochemical products) and are resistant to dust mites.
Banish Streetlight & Noise
Banishing streetlight and noise is another important strategy in building your sleep sanctuary. Light-proof window coverings can help keep light out, but it is also important to find a way to allow natural light into your bedroom in the early morning - to help maintain a healthy sleep and wake cycle. Removing all sources of indoor light (blinking phones, continuously lit alarm clocks, etc.) is important, too. A 2009 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives states that light pollution can disrupt your circadian rhythms and have long-term adverse effects on your health.
Reducing your exposure to street noise when sleeping is also important. According to a 2006 study published in the Croatian Medical Journal, urban dwellers living in noisy areas have a greater risk for sleep disturbances than people living in quieter areas. Also there may be an association between residential road traffic noise exposure and hypertension (high blood pressure) notes a 2007 study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Optimize Room Temperature
Find a room temperature that works well for you or you and your partner and select bedding that helps with thermoregulation. Certain sheets, such as bamboo sheets, are absorbent, breathable, and thermoregulating, due to the structure and the expanding and contracting nature of the fibers with varying temperatures.
Consider Room Design
Room design is a crucial part of building a comfortable and serene sleep sanctuary. Consider keeping your bedroom free of clutter, as clothes and nonessential bedroom items may distract you from resting. Use lamps for lighting instead of overhead lights. Warm, dim light, which mimics nighttime, is best. Rugs and wall hangings can help soften your bedroom’s acoustics and soothing colors or patterns can help you achieve feng shui balance in your bedroom. Feng shui principles also suggest keeping the area underneath your bed open and clutter-free.
Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM
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