Whether young or old, at some point you’ve probably gone through a phase that was less than restful.

One of the first things you need to do when trying to get a restful night’s sleep is to get into a scheduled routine. You should be getting to bed early enough to allow yourself to get roughly 8 hours of sleep each night. Going to sleep and staying to sleep allows your body to enter REM sleep which is the deepest, most restful sleep for your body. Keep in mind that sleep is your bodies way of rebuilding and healing.

Still having trouble, here are some bad habits that could affect your sleep. Cut out screen time such as phones and TV an hour before bed time. Also avoid eating heavy meals, drinking caffeine, alcohol or consuming nicotine.

Set the mood, dim the lights 1-2 hours before bed. In a dim or dark setting your brain starts to secrete melatonin which will help with your overall sleep. If you find your sleep is restless, try adjusting the overall temperature of the room. Try setting the thermostat to just below room temp. If your pets sleep with you it is time for them to move to their own bed. Pets can be restless sleepers and have a way of getting in your personal space while sleeping. By removing them from the room, or at least the bed, you will increase your chances of sleeping soundly.

If you’ve ever spent a day at home lounging on the couch you probably know the feeling of being super tired, yet not at all ready to sleep. Exercise during the day has been proven help you sleep deeper and longer. It can also help to reduce stress and tire you out.

A good nights sleep is the first step to being happy and healthy.

-Cortney & Candace