Changing Bad Sleep Habits

Huffington Post is proud to partner with American Sleep Association (ASA) to promote sleep awareness. Did you ever notice that when you're exhausted, small problems can seem ever bigger? That's because, in addition to having a shorter fuse, lack of sleep can also affect your ability to solve problems. Poor sleep can also lead to a variety of other issues from increasing your risk of accidents to being overweight. It's clear getting enough sleep is a critical factor in maintaining good health. Shooting for seven to nine hours of sleep each night is optimal for most adults. But sometimes we might sabotage our sleep with certain habits. We all have at least a few bad habits. But when it comes to sleep, bad habits may be preventing you from getting the rest you need. The good news is bad habits are just that; habits and they can be changed. The first step is recognizing what routines and practices may be interfering with sleep. Below are some common bad habits that can affect your quality of sleep. Exercising too close to bedtime: Exercise is great for overall health. In fact, regular exercise can even improve sleep. But it's important to time your workout, so it does not interfere with falling asleep. If you work out too close to bedtime, it can act as a stimulate and keep you from falling asleep. If you're hitting the gym in the evening, make sure it's three or four hours before you plan to hit the hay. Scanning your phone in bed: Many of us are tied to our phone. But bef...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news