The phrase ‘sleep hygiene’ may sound like it has to do with cleanliness, but this isn’t quite right. While it may be easy enough to jump to that conclusion, the truth is sleep hygiene relates to the practices and habits that result in a good night’s sleep. Most adults globally struggle with sleep deprivation at some point in their lives.
Thankfully, building strong health hygiene habits is a fairly straightforward process. The best way to sleep healthily is to practice these habits over and over again until they become instinctual. From investing in the most comfortable mattress you can get your hands on to rearranging your furniture, here are our top tips for good sleep hygiene:
Tip #1: Invest wisely in your bedroom
Your bedroom should be a place of calm and rest amidst all the bustle in your life. Good rest, of course, starts with your bed. The best way to sleep well begins with the best mattress for the job, so begin doing research on the type of mattress that will be well-suited to your personal needs.
Memory foam mattresses are one of the best mattresses for those looking for a range of options, versatile support, and unbeatable comfort during their sleep. You’ll also want to ensure that your mattress, memory foam mattress or not, is well suited to the needs of your environment.
For instance, the best mattress for a stuffier room will be one with climate-adaptive capabilities, so you know you’re able to stay cool through the night with something that is breathable and helps with airflow.
If you own a pet, you’ll want to invest in a memory foam mattress that is stain resistant and hypoallergenic. Not only will the future you thank you for this, it will save you tons of time and money when it comes to mattress maintenance.
Tip #2: Once you’ve set your bedroom up for sleep, be sure to maintain it.
The topic of maintenance brings us quite nicely to our next point. Even if you’re convinced you’ve found yourself the best mattress possible, it takes a great deal to keep in mind that you’ll need to take time and energy to maintain it well.
Even the best mattresses are susceptible to trapping dust and other external debris within their layers, impeding you from having the best sleep you could. Be sure to do a bi-annual clean – not only will this help with the longevity of your mattress, it will ultimately help you have better sleep.
Tip #3: The best way to sleep is a nightly routine
When it comes to figuring out what the best way to sleep is, you’ll want to nail down a nightly routine that preps your body for a long and blissful night of uninterrupted rest. Stay away from caffeinated drinks past noon, and have a designated time at night which means you’ll be keeping your phones switched off. These seemingly insignificant habits can actually make a massive difference in your natural sleep cycles, and over-exposure to either can play a major role to sleep deprivation.
Other habits can help stave off sleep deprivation. If you struggle with feeling rested and calm before going to bed, trying out some light meditation, having a hot cup of herbal tea, and having a hot shower have all been proven the best way to sleep after a long day. Even if you’re thrilled to be using a snazzy new memory foam mattress, be sure to reserve the bed also for sleep only, so if you find yourself awake for longer than twenty minutes, switch to an alternate activity before trying again.
Sleep deprivation can be a really challenging thing to deal with, and memory foam mattress or not, invest time and energy into figuring out what may be the cause behind yours. Good sleep can be truly transformative, so take the pains to build positive sleep hygiene, and you’ll find it worth the effort.