How to Sleep Better According to Reddit
If you feel like you can never get a good night’s sleep, and even later starting your day won’t help, you are not alone. Sometimes bags under the eyes are less related to sleep duration and more to actual sleep quality.
In a recent Reddit thread, users shared how they overcame their sleep quality issues. Below are a few tips to help you sleep – that is, if you’re ready to ditch your smartphone.
Remove all light sources
For u / leventnoir, the key to a better night’s rest is as little light as possible; This means installing blackout curtains and even removing all electronics from the bedroom, including alarms and LED lights. (Just remember to set an alarm on your phone if you go this route.)
If you cannot do this, u / gnomon75 offers a comfortable eye mask as an alternative. “It should have a curve for your nose and extra space for your eyes to better block light completely and not leave gaps like a flat eye mask would.” If you are sensitive to noise, it might be worth considering earplugs or even a white noise apparatus – just make sure you hear your alarm.
Consistency is the key to success
The comments repeat over and over again the recommendation to keep your sleep schedule as constant as possible if you want quality sleep. “ Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time ,” writes u / alakazam . “Every day, even on weekends. Right now, I sleep 7.5 hours every night, and I feel consistently well-rested and awake in the morning, which was a pretty big contrast to my graduate days when sleep was inconsistent, even though I slept more on some days. “If your days are not consistent, it might be time to build a schedule so you can sleep at the same hour without fail.
Cut out caffeine
Unsurprisingly, caffeine as a stimulant is bad for your ability to sleep. ( A small study conducted in 2013, showed that caffeine, as used in the six hours before bedtime, could still disrupt sleep.) According to the u / duostesticuloshabet , it helps to correctly calculate the time of caffeine. “… I’m trying my best to keep it from noon,” they said. “Since then, I have noticed a significant improvement in my ability to fall asleep and sleep soundly. As someone who often trains twice a day between strength training, gymnastics, and jogging / swimming, it’s easy to forget how many daytime pre-workouts or energy drinks can ruin your evening sleep. ”
Look at the best mattress
If you don’t sleep well, the problem might be the mattress – at least that was the case with u / independent_rice . “I went from sleeping on a cheap IKEA mattress on a steel frame to a spring mattress with two mattresses upstairs and I sleep great every night,” they said. “I fall asleep faster and have stopped tossing and turning the same way.”
Not sure which mattress you need? In another comment, u / msrsnowshoes recommends visiting a retailer and trying out the mattresses instead of using online sellers. If the mattress is causing you discomfort anywhere on your body, move on to the next one. Otherwise, if you spent the night in hotels or with friends with a mattress you like, give them a ring and find out the model. You can probably find a similar one from your local vendor (or the same one).
Give up electronics
You’ve heard this before, but looking into your smartphone can only make bad sleep habits worse. “Turning off my phone half an hour before my expected bedtime really helps me stay on track when I want to sleep,” writes u / midnight_madness8 . “Otherwise, I’m so distracted and the process can take twice as long as it should.”
Here’s our guide on how to turn off your devices before bed. And if you feel tempted to check his chronicle in Twitter bedtime, u / busyminimum recommends that you leave it in the other room. (And if you’re reading this from bed right now, put it aside and go back.)
Know when to see a doctor
If you’ve tried all of these, or spent a full eight hours feeling unresponsive, then it might be time to get an expert on the problem, u / reditanian recommends . If you have any concerns, it is always best to tell your doctor about them, especially if you plan on taking supplements to solve the problem. As we wrote earlier , melatonin can also help you in the short term, but it’s best to ask your doctor if you’re looking for a long-term answer to your sleep quality problem.