Getting a good night sleep can be crucial to setting you up for the day ahead. But did you know there are things you can do that actually make your sleep worse?
One of those could be hanging about in your bed. A sleep specialist reckons using your bed for anything other than snoozing or getting cosy could throw off your sleep pattern.
Dr Chester Wu specialises in sleep. She told The Daily Star: “I try not to linger in bed because I definitely feel like that causes me to feel more lazy or groggy.” He went on to explain that what you do in the morning can give your body clock a good kickstart, helping keep you awake in the daytime and ready to sleep at night.”
Plenty of other sleep experts also believe it’s better to get out of bed when you wake up. Chelsie Rohrscheib, an expert on brains and sleep, shared: “I never stay in bed and do activities that aren’t related to sleep and intimacy. This means when I wake up, I get out of bed immediately and go somewhere else in my house.”
Chelsie says this helps train her brain to understand the bedroom is a place for sleep. This she says means she manages to get a good night.
Other doctors believe you should have a glass of water and some fresh air when you wake up. According to Mirror, Chelsie advises: “Light during the day is very important for keeping our circadian rhythm well-regulated. Studies have shown that a lack of sunlight exposure can reduce the quality of your sleep, contribute to insomnia, and negatively impact mood.”
Exercise is also key after waking up. It doesn’t have to be intense – light stretching and movements to get your heart rate up will do.
Dr. Chris Winter, a neurologist and sleep health expert, suggests: “getting active quickly is a fantastic way to signal to your brain that the day has begun”. “The exercise does not have to be particularly intense. I start my day off by walking my dogs every day or walking with my wife to work,” he added.
Doctors recommend making your bed in the morning to help wake you up and avoiding daytime naps as they may make you less tired at night.
