Getting a good night’s sleep may not seem like a huge priority, but it is crucial to your health. When you are well rested, it positively impacts your mood, energy, motivation, and productiveness throughout the day. Therefore, it is important to avoid certain habits before bed so that you can have sufficient rest for the day ahead. To speak with Dr. Shukla, the best insomnia doctor in New York, contact Sleep MD today.
Limit Screen Time Before Bed
Although it is common to wind down at the end of the day by watching T.V., catching up on your social media, or reading a book on your tablet, these are the very things that are linked to disrupted sleep. The blue light given off by many of our gadgets such as computers, smartphones, tablets, or our television prevents the production of melatonin. Melatonin is what helps the body become sleepy. To plan for a better night’s rest, stop your screen time an hour before going to bed.
No Caffeinated Beverages
While this one may seem a bit obvious, many people sneak caffeine into their system without realizing it. Whether you like the idea of having a nice coffee after dinner, a root beer float for dessert, or a night-time tea as a part of your nightly routine, these all can contain a significant amount of caffeine that can effect your sleep. Additionally, caffeine has the ability to stay in your body for up to 12 hours, so even having a coffee in the late morning or early afternoon can be detrimental depending on your bedtime. For an intensive list of caffeinated beverages to avoid before bed, contact the team at Sleep MD and Dr. Shukla, the best insomnia doctor in New York.
Don’t Send a Text
Whether you have been meaning to send a text all day and just have not gotten around to it or just want to check in with someone, sending a text right before bed is not advised. Not only are you subjecting yourself to the blue-light that we discussed earlier, but you are also inviting interrupted sleep from your phone ringing later in the night. To avoid these sleeping distractions, do not send a text right before bed. (If there is a special circumstance where you need to send something off before bed, make sure to turn your phone on silent so that the response will not wake you up from a restful sleep).
Avoid Alcohol
While you may initially feel that sleepy, drowsy feeling that alcohol can give you, drinking it right before bed will not let lead to a restful sleep. Once your body begins to metabolize the alcohol, your REM periods are negatively affected. This disrupted REM sleep leads to a tired, groggy feeling in the morning that will not make you feel ready to take on the day. For more information on the effects of alcohol and sleep, contact the experts at Sleep MD, the best insomnia doctor in New York.
Getting a restful night’s sleep is beneficial to a variety of aspects of your life. If you have not been making a good night’s sleep a priority, are having a difficult time getting adequate rest, or have been suffering with insomnia, it is important to seek help from professionals. With an incredible team, informative education on sleep, and a multitude of solutions, its no wonder that Sleep MD is destination for all things sleep-related. For more information, contact our team!
