Thinking about going to sleep may put a smile on your face. However, for some people, the idea of going to sleep can cause anxiety. For others, sleeping means a chance to avoid life’s problems. These examples show why achieving a balance in your sleeping habits is essential for living your best life.
Sleep is an important ingredient in overall well-being. Conversely, lack of sleep can negatively affect your mental and physical health. This article will examine how sleeping habits can affect mood, some of the most common things you might be doing to interrupt a good night’s rest, and ways you can improve your sleeping habits and get the rest you need.
Sleeping Habits and Moods
You probably know that bad sleeping habits can cause poor moods. After all, we all have heard the saying, “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” It just so happens that there is a lot of truth behind this statement. Poor sleeping habits can cause an increase in irritability and stress throughout your day.
Not only does mood affect your sleep, but it can also affect mental health symptoms, like anxiety and depression. Anxiety increases agitation, which can make it difficult to go to sleep. This in turn creates stress throughout the body, which makes it harder to stay asleep.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of adults report that they get less than the recommended amount of sleep each night. Because of this, it is important to explore the connection between sleep and moods.
How Many Hours of Sleep Is Good Sleep Hygiene?
When thinking about the word “hygiene,” sleep is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Still, sleep hygiene refers to the way a person goes to bed and how. Those factors may not seem like they are that important in getting good rest. However, your sleep routine can have a major impact on the quality of rest you’re able to obtain.
According to the CDC, on average a healthy adult needs around seven hours of sleep quality night. Some people may need more or less, depending on their lifestyle and activity. Good sleep quality usually means sleeping straight through the night. Do you sleep the whole night through? Or are you waking up several times? Further, how do you feel when you wake up?
If you feel like you have enough energy to make it through the day, then you have probably received the amount of sleep that you require. Otherwise, you may need to readjust your sleep schedule.
Common Things That Affect Sleeping Habits
Many things can affect your sleeping habits. One of the main things to focus on is your bedtime routine and how you are falling asleep. Several things can affect sleeping habits including but not limited to internal and external influences. Internal influences are things like physical pain, stress, snoring, and mental health disorders. External influences are the temperature of the room, light factors, noise, caffeine, alcohol, and food.
Other common influences may be:
- Sleep apnea
- Jet lag
- Smoking
- Medication
Factors that can negatively or positively influence sleep are not limited to these lists. Everyone’s factors are unique. Therefore, it is important to examine what you have going on in your life. Watching excessive amounts of television can impact your sleep hygiene. Staring at a computer screen in the evenings can have a profound impact on your sleeping hygiene too. If you are struggling with sleeping habits during recovery, The Guest House has qualified professionals to guide you toward restful sleeping behaviors.
Tips on How to Improve Sleeping Habits
The good news is that you are not doomed to toss and turn every night. There are things that you can do today that will improve your sleep quality. You may be able to change your sleeping habits immediately and create improved quality sleep. Changes don’t need to be dramatic; minor changes can be what you need. Here are some helpful tips on improving your sleeping habits:
- Create a sleep schedule. With a sleep schedule, you will go to bed at the same time each night. Allow yourself at least ten minutes to get comfortable before falling asleep. This means turning off all electronics and switching your phone to vibrate or airplane mode.
- Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed extremely full or thirsty. This can cause you to toss and turn or wake up during the night.
- Create a restful environment. Keep your room cool and dark. Relaxing activities, like warm baths or guided meditations, can promote calm feelings throughout your body.
- Limit your daytime naps. Do not nap after five p.m. and keep napping to a minimum of no more than an hour throughout your day.
- Exercise. It is important to exercise throughout your day to keep your circulation moving. Regular exercise promotes better sleep. However, be careful not to engage in intense exercise close to bedtime.
Promoting better sleeping habits is not just good for those in recovery but for everyone. Know that good sleep hygiene is important for your overall well-being. When it comes to sleep, there are always ways you can improve, no matter where you are at on your journey toward wellness.
At The Guest House, we understand how important good sleeping habits are and we want to help you get restful sleep. No matter how far along you’ve come on your journey, we can help you become the best you that you can be.
Healthy sleeping habits can make a world of difference in your daily life. As you learn more about the impact of a lack of sleep, you may be inspired to improve your sleep routines. It is easy to get caught up in being busy and not take the proper time to tend to healthy sleep hygiene. However, good sleeping habits are essential for promoting an overall healthy state during recovery. At The Guest House, we understand how lack of sleep affects your stress levels and overall mental health. If you are struggling with healthy sleeping patterns, please do not hesitate and give us a call at (855) 483-7800. We can help you get on track to better health and well-being.