Becoming a total bitch isn’t the only thing you have to worry about if you’re not getting enough sleep. Among others, studies show that sleep deprivation causes stress, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even psychosis. Although a tiny percentage of people can actually get by with six or seven hours worth of sleep a night, most of us need at least seven to eight hours. No exceptions. So if you think that by getting less sleep you’re able to get more done, think again! Says Timothy J. PHD in The Good Sleep Guide, “Sleep is not a vice”. So below is the 10-step plan to getting better sleep.
1. Understand the need for sleep-After reading this article, you should already know this.
2. Make sleep a priority- It is as important as your mealtimes. Don’t relegate it to something you do “when everything else is done”.
3. Watch your diet- A balanced diet will help you sleep better, but remember to stay away from alcohol, sleeping pills and caffeine too close to bedtime.
4. Exercise and be active- Regular exercise-though not too close to your bedtime, will improve your chances of getting regular sleep.
5. Learn to relax- Tension and stress at bedtime will give you a restless night.Try meditating before you sleep.
6. Sort out your sleep routine- Get into a pattern of going to sleep the same time every night, and waking the same time every day.
7. Organise your time- No matter what you think, there really are enough hours in a day to do everything. It’s a question of organisation.
8. Develop healthy thinking and control worry- Worrying can keep you up and sleepless. Adopt some worry-free strategies like exercise, meditation and structured problem -solving.
9. Deal with other problems- Sort out your relationships, work or mental or physical problems.With less to think about, you’ll sleep better.
10. Persevere and practice- You have to make good sleep a habit, and this will take time. Don’t give up too easily.