Is a perfect
sleep environment a myth?
Our lives are getting
busier with literally no work- life balance. One day you could be in Tokyo, the
next in the Middle East and hopefully back home by the end of the week, yet
again to endure a late night soiree! Everything being time-bound too, even
falling asleep may seem like a tick box exercise without truly resting.
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Sounds like
your schedule?
Thanks to progressive
technology, a lot of research has gone into studying human sleep patterns and
its effects. An article by India Times reports, ‘Fitbit recently revealed, that
Indians are one of the poorest sleepers in the world, clocking in an average
6.55 hours, which is far lower than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep.’
This, of course, can lead
to a list of serious health problems not limited to but include,
·
Anxiety
·
Depression
·
Heart Problems
·
Lack of
appetite
·
Absentmindedness
·
Impaired
judgment leading to accidents
Sleep, therefore, is absolutely
critical for our body to maintain a healthy life, immune system, protect our
cerebral functions and, that’s right, even to maintain a healthy weight.
More and more people have
access to this information and are slowly but surely choosing to keep their
wellness as a priority. Mattress
manufacturers like Wakefit
take these statistics seriously and customize their products to suit the
new age lifestyle.
However, with practically
no time to unwind and plenty of schedules to juggle, how does one maintain a
perfect sleep environment and a bedtime routine?
No matter where you are and
what your schedule is, use these tips to your benefit
Set a sleep
environment:
·
Invest in a
good mattress and pillow
Leading mattress
manufacturer, Wakefit, design mattresses and
pillows that give you a balanced sleep experience. With so many options now
available in the market, choose one that suits your posture, sleep position,
and comfort.
·
Room
temperature
Our bodies are designed to
sleep in cooler temperatures. This is why you naturally feel cooler in the
evenings feeling a need to cosy in and sleep. The optimal temperature for
sleeping is between 60-67 degrees F. Find your comfortable temperature to fall
into deep sleep using layers of blankets.
·
Lights
Turn off all lights in the
room to maintain absolute darkness. You can do this by installing dark or
blackout curtains to block light from outside. Exposure to artificial
light as well, like bulbs, blue light from mobile phones, TV, alarm clocks, all
slow down our sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Turn these off completely
before bedtime. So no more stalking your friends on social media in bed!
Along with setting the
right sleep environment, consider following a consistent bedtime routine as
well. Here are a few tips:
Plan your day
ahead
Have your clothes set out
for tomorrow, do your meal preps, charge your worktops. Keeping your gear ready
reduces last minute stress. Also having them ready a night before tricks your
mind into believing you are all set.
Relax
Choose to do an activity
that really calms your nerves- a bit of a ‘me’ time. Read a book, make a cup of
tea, meditate- whatever your Zen, indulge! Whatever you choose, make sure it
relaxes you and most importantly, remain consistent with it.
Bedtime-wake up
hours
Different people have
different sleep patterns. Listen to your own body’s need for a proper night’s
rest. Try to maintain at least 7 full hours of sleep, whether a weekday or
weekend.
Repetition is key and soon,
your body will respond with a slowdown inducing restful sleep.
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