5 Practical Tips for Healthy, Restful Sleep

It’s a sad truth of modern society that many people are chronically under-rested. The busyness of life, often coupled with issues like sleep disorders, can easily lead you to feel drained most of the time. What can you do to improve your sleep habits and wake up feeling refreshed each morning? Here are some practical and simple restful sleep tips in Vero Beach:

Establish a Good Nighttime Routine

A good nighttime routine can help you wind down and prepare both your mind and body for sleep. Here are some elements that you might want to incorporate into your evening habits:

• Stop using electronic devices about 1 – 2 hours before you want to go to sleep.
• Try to go to bed around the same time every night.
• Reserve your bed for sleep and intimacy with your partner. Do not work, read, watch TV, or scroll through social media while lying on it.

Upgrade Your Bedroom

Research indicates that most people sleep better if their bedroom is slightly on the cool side. You should also have a comfortable mattress and pillow that provide the necessary support for your neck and back. If you frequently experience congestion or coughing at night, you may need to perform a deep-clean of your room. For example, you might need to wash all your bed linens, clean your mattress, and pay a professional to shampoo your carpets.

Be Mindful of What You Drink

Alcohol can cause you to feel drowsy, but it is not an effective sleep aid because it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Therefore, you should avoid it during the last few hours before bedtime. You should also drink it only in moderation.

Additionally, it would be wise to watch your caffeine intake. Different people have different tolerances for caffeine, but generally speaking, you should avoid consuming it in the afternoon.

Get Enough Physical Activity

Adequate amounts of physical activity are consistently associated with higher-quality sleep. If you can, try to sneak in a workout in the morning or afternoon. It is best to avoid vigorous activity close to bedtime, though, because it can energize you and keep you awake for longer than you want.

Watch for Signs of Sleep Disorders

Some people consistently spend 7 – 8 hours asleep but still wake up feeling exhausted. If that is true of you, you may have a disorder, such as sleep apnea in Vero Beach. Sleep apnea is a condition that disrupts the sleep cycle via repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night. Fortunately, it is highly treatable with the help of a qualified sleep dentist.

Sleep is precious! If you are not getting enough of it, use the above tips to improve your daily routine and start getting the rejuvenating shuteye you need.

Meet the Practice

Under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Mogell, our team provides sleep apnea treatment to our community. If you are struggling to get enough rest, we would be pleased to consult with you. Call our Vero Beach office at 772-882-6800 or contact one of our other convenient locations.