SLEEP SECRETS

Scientific studies have shown that sleep deprived people have cravings for overeating and late-night snacking on food which is sweet, oily and sugary that adds to the fat and calories. This behaviour in the long run leads to multiple health related issues like weight gain and hormonal imbalance. In addition, a reduction in total sleep duration can lead to obesity. All of this can be changed by instilling a good sleeping habit in your life.

This may seem difficult to follow initially, but incorporating good “Sleep Hygiene” can help you achieve 7-8 hours of sound sleep every night.

Here are some tips that will help you create a sustainable and achievable sleep routine:

• Schedule your day i.e. get up and sleep every day at the same time. Try and maintain this even on weekends with an extension of half to one hour being acceptable. This will help reset your internal body-clock and you will wake up every morning feeling fresh and alert. The other bonus here is, eventually the need for annoying morning alarms will vanish.
• Expose yourself to sunlight in the mornings along with some exercise to kick start your day- This helps boost your wake drive and productivity.
• Follow a pre-sleep routine like taking a warm shower before bed, reading a book, listening to soothing music, or meditation.
• Have dinner 2-3 hours before scheduled bedtime and avoid large/heavy meals in the evenings
• Do not consume Alcohol, Coffee, caffeinated Soft drinks or Desserts just before bedtime.
• Learn to disconnect - Do not use electronic devices like Television, Mobiles, and Laptops at least an hour before scheduled bedtime. If possible, completely ban these items from entering your bedroom.
• Lastly, create a sleep inducing environment in your bedroom to help your mind know that it is time to sleep. Simple things like using minimum lighting, adjusting room temperature, black-out curtains, noise blocking window panes, wearing eye-patch etc. can help create this environment in your bedroom -Keep your room clutter free.