The last building block of a healthy lifestyle is sleep. We know it is one more thing that you may not have time for. Trust us; you don’t have time not to sleep!
Here are some scary statistics taken from a recent Sleep in America poll (performed by the National Sleep Foundation, based in the United States).
- 43% of adults stated that they had a good night’s sleep almost every night. An additional 25% say that they get a good night’s sleep a few nights a week.
- The average person needs 7 hours and 18 minutes for a good night’s sleep, but receives only 6 hours and 40 minutes. That doesn’t sound like a big difference, but over the course of the year that’s about 230 hours of sleep debt!
- 28% of adults stated that sleepiness interfered with their daily activities at least a few days a month. 5% reported that it does so almost every day.
- About a quarter of adults have driven while drowsy.
Try these tips to help you get a good night’s sleep.
- Use your bed just for sleeping – not for reading, watching TV, working, etc. Likewise, try to sleep just in your bed, not on the couch or in the armchair.
- Make your bedroom a comfortable place, with curtains to keep light out, an appropriate amount of blankets, and no noise or distractions.
- Try to go to bed and get up around the same time each day.
- Have a routine before you go to bed. A cup of tea, a few stretches, a few moments of meditation, a warm bath, and quiet music are all great ways to relax.