10 Seemingly Harmless Habits That Don’t Let Us Sleep Well

Sleep plays an important part in any person’s life. And if we don’t sleep enough, or have difficulties relaxing in bed, it may harm our health. Sometimes, it’s due to some of our habits that have seemingly nothing to do with sleep.

We at CHEERY decided to find out what doesn’t let some people sleep well. And in the bonus section, you will find a few tricks to help you fall asleep faster.

We wear warm pajamas and nightgowns

It’s the heat that has a negative influence on how we sleep. When it’s too hot, you can’t be in the deep sleep phase for enough time, so you can’t rest well.

This is why it’s better to wear either very light clothes in bed, or no clothes at all. It will lower the body temperature, and you can sleep well without an AC or a fan.

We do important things right before going to bed

In order not to turn attempts to fall asleep into torture, it’s better to prepare for this process in advance. 2-3 hours in before sleep, it’s better to dim the lights and avoid serious conversation, planning, work, and any other irritation that might hinder your relaxation.

Besides, it’s better to develop a before-sleep routing. Some people read, others meditate, or do yoga. In any case, it’s better to forget about all worries, at least 30 minutes before sleep.

We take a shower right before bed

Right after taking a warm shower or a bath, the body temperature might increase and not let you relax. So, it’s better to take showers a couple of hours before sleep. So, you will have enough time to cool down and fall asleep.

And some people find cold showers very useful. Especially if they are used to cold water. It’s also good for people who are very active and exercise in the second half of the day. Cold showers decrease heart rate and reduce muscle pain.

We wash our hair before sleep

If you go to bed with wet hair regularly, it will damage your hair, cause dandruff and fingus, and scalp irritation. The scalp will be itchy which is not a recipe for good sleep.

We don’t pay attention to the lights in the bedroom

In order to sleep longer and better, we need sunbaths at least 2 hours a day. If the weather is not that good, you can replace natural light with bright artificial light. Such procedures affect the brain and hormone production and help organize your routine.

And blue light in the evening won’t let you fall asleep. This is why it’s better to avoid all devices before going to bed and remove your TV from the bedroom. Night lamps and other sources of light should have warm light. Besides, it’s great to have dimmers.

We take melatonin before bed

Melatonin is also known as the sleep hormone. It’s believed that taking foods or meds that contain it helps us fall asleep faster. But it should be done in advance, and only if a doctor recommends it. When we take melatonin right before bed, it’s no use.

We drink too many fluids before sleep

You should limit the amount of fluids you drink before sleep. Otherwise, you are bound to get up to pee often, which won’t help you rest. By the way, a glass of warm milk may actually help you fall asleep. But it’s not about tryptophan that milk contains. In order for it to affect the body, you would have to drink a lot more than just a glass.

Scientists don’t really know why milk helps fall asleep. Maybe, it’s just part of people’s everyday routine and if it’s not, it won’t help.

We keep the alarm clock on the bedside table

All the things that can bother you when you’re asleep should be turned off or put aside. It’s not only about the phones and tablets. The alarm clock shouldn’t be on the bedside table, either.

If you are constantly looking at the clock and marking time, you can’t fully relax and have a good rest. You don’t need to put the clock outside the room, just put it under the bed or somewhere where you can’t see it.

We lie in bed waiting to fall asleep

In order not to spend hours trying to fall asleep, the bed and the bedroom should be sacred places where you only rest at night. Don’t lie there during the day, don’t have snacks on the bed, don’t work or watch TV lying in bed.

Besides, the bed itself should only be connected with positive moments. If you can’t fall asleep right away, it’s better not to wait and turn from side to side, but get up, and go to another room for 20 minutes. Read a book or listen to music. It’s better not to look at the clock and try not to worry about sleep.

We close the bedroom door

Studies showed that open bedroom doors improve the air circulation and decrease the temperature. This is why people that keep their bedroom doors open sleep longer and better. So, if you are not worried when the door is open and your pets don’t bother you, it’s better to keep it open.

Bonus: Tricks to fall asleep faster

For a long time, people thought that exercising before sleep can prevent them from relaxing in bed. But studies showed that even a lot of physical activity doesn’t have any effect on how people relax and enjoy their rest. Besides, some people fall asleep faster after working out.

As strange as it sounds, socks help people relax and sleep better. Sleep cycles depend on a lot on body temperature. When our feet are warm, the blood vessels expand which helps lower the temperature faster. This process is a signal for the brain that it’s time to sleep.

If a person suffers from anxiety or depression, a special heavy blanket can help them relax before sleep. The soft pressure it has on the body makes us feel like our parents are holding us in their hands.

People feel protected, worries and anxiety go away, and the nervous system calms down. These things stimulate the production of serotonin (the hormone responsible for good mood), and decrease the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) which helps shut down faster and sleep better.

Do you have any tricks that help you fall asleep faster?