Getting the Best Possible Sleep

Sleep is one of the most overlooked parts of our health, even though it’s one of the most crucial. As we age, we experience regular changes in our sleep schedule, but changes such as disturbed sleep or struggles falling asleep are not typical. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is essential to keeping your brain and body healthy.

A proper night of sleep helps improve your concentration, memory formation, and alertness throughout the day. But while you’re asleep at night, your body is also working hard to repair damaged cells, preparing them for the day ahead. Improving your quality of sleep can be challenging, especially in today’s age of screens. TVs, phones, and computers all emit blue light, which can damage your body’s internal clock, tricking your body into not creating the melatonin which aids your sleep.

Here are some ways to make sure your sleep stays healthy:

• Avoid screens one hour before bed. If you can’t avoid screens, use apps like Night Shift to reduce the amount of blue light emitted from the screens. Or read a good book instead!
• Try to avoid napping during the day, but if you can’t avoid them, keep the naps short!
• Seek out the sun! Exposure to natural light cues your circadian rhythm to keep you awake.
• Exercise! Simply walking 30 minutes a day is not only healthy for your body – but also for your sleep.
• Avoid eating at least two hours before bed. This will allow your body time to digest the foods you’ve eaten earlier in the day.
• Cut back on sugary foods, alcohol, and spicy foods right before bedtime. These foods and drinks can damage your sleep schedule by pushing it farther back.

Keeping a healthy sleep schedule is critical to keeping your body and mind healthy. Ensuring your circadian rhythm is in order is one of the best ways to do that. When your circadian rhythm is off, your body doesn’t function optimally, leading to daytime sleepiness and making you prone to other bodily issues.

Our staff at Evergreen Place in Champaign work hard to maintain a healthy schedule for our residents. Call today for more information at 217-530-4300 or or schedule your tour online!