How to Sleep Better:
Top 10 Tips for Better Sleep
 In this article, How To Sleep Better: Top 10 Tips for Better Sleep, you will learn some great ideas for getting more shuteye. This is important for a healthy mind and body, besides improving your chances for lucid dreaming.
Take a look at your sleeping habits right now. Busy modern living leaves many people suffering from sleep deprivation. They may pay back the sleep debt at weekends but this only disrupts the body's natural Circadian Rhythm and makes it harder to fall asleep during the week.
So here are my top 10 tips for how to sleep better and find out if you're suffering from a sleep disorder without even knowing about it.
#1 - Give yourself enough time to sleep
Everyone needs a different amount of sleep to function normally - on average this is about 7.5 to 8.5 hours per night. If you have to press the snooze button in the morning, or drag yourself out of bed feeling exhausted, then you're probably not getting enough shuteye and are suffering from sleep deprivation.
 #2 - Go to bed at the same time
To sleep better, aim to go to bed at the same time during weekdays and weekends, so that when your alarm goes off in the morning, you've had a regular amount of sleep. Buy some light curtains so that the sunlight wakes you up in the morning, and helps set your Circadian Rhythm naturally.
#3 - Avoid stimulants at night
The main culprits are coffee, tea, chocolate and soda drinks - these all contain caffeine which will keep your body and mind alert for hours. This will also prevent you from getting deep non-REM sleep, which is what revitalizes your body. Be conscious of your caffeine intake and how it causes any sleep deprivation and you will soon learn how to sleep better naturally.
#4 - Avoid bright light before bed
It's unnatural for us to be immersed in bright light before attempting to go to sleep for the night. This tricks our brain into thinking it's daytime and interferes with our Circadian Rhythm. So if you must read before bed, use a low wattage bulb (15 watts should do the trick) or install a dimmer switch.
 #5 - Avoid heavy meals before bed
A heavy meal forces your body to crank up the digestive system while you actually want to be getting your body nice and relaxed for better sleep. What's more, if you lie down on a full stomach, you're more likely to induce acid reflux which can disturb your sleep and even trigger night terrors.
#6 - Set a bedtime routine
A regular routine tells your mind and body to start winding down for the night. Have a light snack about an hour before bed so you're not trying to sleep on an empty stomach. Or try a cup of herbal tea to relax jittery nerves. Always empty your bladder before bed so it doesn't wake you up during the night.
#7 - Keep your bedroom cool
We all have an optimum room temperature for better sleep, so make sure yours isn't too hot or too cold. Wear enough layers to bed in the winter and switch your thick duvet to a light sheet in the summer. It's better to be slightly on the cooler side so you can wrap up warmer if you need to.
#8 - Don't lay awake for more than 30 minutes
If you're tossing and turning in bed, unable to get to sleep for whatever reason, don't torture yourself for more than 30 minutes. Get up and go do something to occupy your mind. You'll eventually feel sleepy enough to fall into bed.
 #9 - Don't stress out if you can't sleep
Don't lay in bed worrying about the fact that you can't get any sleep. It's likely that your mind is already buzzing with thoughts, so stressing about how to sleep better will make things worse. Try listening to some relaxation music to distract from your worries and put your mind and body at ease.
#10 - Get your partner to tell you about any unusual sleep behaviors
Ask your partner if you ever snore, temporarily stop breathing, talk or shout, or move about a lot during sleep. It could be that you have a sleep disorder (ranging from sleep deprivation, to sleep apnea, to REM sleep disorder) so seeing a doctor could help you discover how to sleep better for good.
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The Effects of Sleep Deprivation
How to Sleep Better
Sleep Disorders
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Fatal Familial Insomnia
The Man Who Never Slept
Why Do We Sleep?
Are You an Insomniac?
How do you tackle your insomnia? Share your very best tips for better sleep and learn what other natural sleep aids people find most effective.
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