Ensuring you and your family are getting a good night’s rest is vital to the health and wellbeing of your household. If you and any member of your family are struggling with getting a good night’s rest due to the changing of seasons, stress, hot nights, and disruption in your day-to-day life, then the consequences could be detrimental. You might be more likely to have trouble remembering or concentrating, suffer from mood swings, be more likely to make mistakes or have accidents.
There are many reasons for poor sleep such as seasonal changes, stress, sleep apnoea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or circadian rhythm disorders.
For many adults, sleep does not come easily, with over half the population citing they do not wake up feeling refreshed and have experienced some sort of ongoing sleep issues. However, there are many things you can do to help improve your sleep.
Setting your body clock can help to get you in the right sleeping rhythm. Going to bed and rising each day at the same time, including weekends, can rest your body clock so your body knows when it is time to sleep and wake up. If you find you need to catch up on sleep, it is better to go to bed earlier and wake up at the same regular morning time. Stepping into bright natural light in the morning also helps to wake your body up,
Winding down at bedtime is a great way to set yourself and your family up for a restful night’s sleep. Having an hour before bed of quiet time, such as a bath, reading, and listening to music, helps to calm the mind before sleep. Ensuring you and your child’s bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet also helps to facilitate sleep.
Avoiding cigarettes, alcohol or caffeinated drinks in the evenings is also a great way of ensuring you have the best chance of falling asleep easily and staying asleep.
Keeping active and including some form of physical activity during the day, even just a short walk, can help your body to feel like it needs and is ready for rest. Regular daytime exercise has proven to improve sleep.
Reducing blue light exposure in the evening encourages your melatonin levels, which is your body’s natural sleep inhibitor. Keeping you and your family off electronic devices can play a major role in a good night’s rest. Using dim or red lighting in the evenings can also help send you off to sleep, positively affecting your melatonin and body clock.
If you continue to struggle with your or your family’s sleeping patterns, your local community pharmacist can advise you of suitable products to use to help your household’s sleep back to a natural rhythm. They are also excellent at advising on possible more serious health issues such as sleep apnoea.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not intended as medical or health advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your pet's individual needs.
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