In one of our previous blog articles, we examined how keystone habits spur us on to achieve spill over success in other aspects of our life. As Aristotle mused, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Sleep is an excellent keystone habit to build. Let’s wait no further and find out the 3 best ways to improve ours!
1. Keep a consistent bedtime routine
We all love a good, snuggly sleeping in on Sundays, don’t we? Well, that is certainly well-deserved after a long week of work, but did you know that it may damaging your sleep health? Our body works on an intrinsic circadian rhythm and functions best when it goes to sleep and wake up at the same time daily.
Life is full of ebbs and flows, but if there is one thing that we want to keep constant, that is our bedtime routine.
Establish consistency in this aspect and watch results soar in all other facets of your life!
2. Exercise in moderation
Remember when we were young and our parents took us to the park to run around or play catch? Turns out there may have been a reason for that – to get our mind and body tired enough for bedtime later!
Physical activity not only possesses a whole platter of health benefits, but helps us fall into a deeper sleep – and it is this deep phase of sleep that the body truly gets to recover and tissues and muscles have the chance to repair!
However, remember that there can be too much of a good thing, sometimes. Try not to exercise too intensely right before bedtime, as it may serve the opposite effect and keep you awake instead!
3. Cut down on the caffeine
The half-life of caffeine is a beastly five hours, which means that half of that Americano you drank five hours ago is still keeping the wheels in your head spinning fast. For people who have developed a tolerance to caffeine and are able to fall asleep even after a cuppa, their sleep quality may still be compromised.
If you are feeling sluggish without your morning or/and afternoon cup of Arabica beans, try to first cut down the amount of coffee that you drink per day rather than all at once to minimise withdrawal symptoms. Ironically, when you cut down coffee, you will probably fall asleep faster and deeper, and require less coffee the next day to feel fresh!
We hope that this article has been useful and inspirational. At MaxCoil, we are passionate about the science and art of good sleep. Follow us on our social media channels for more fun and useful sleep tips and hacks!
