How to prioritize sleep

Sleep is vital to overall health. Everyone needs sleep to function properly mentally, physically, and emotionally. So why is it that we do not prioritize sleep like we should? In a busy, on-the-go culture, it sometimes seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything we want to do. As a result, the first thing we give up is sleep. At least I know I have done this. With tests to study for and papers to write, sleep is the last thing on my mind. Not prioritizing sleep is a bad habit that we need to break, and we can, if we have the right tools. As we have said before, our goal is to encourage you to feel bold, raw, inspired, and extraordinary in your everyday life. An important part of this is sleep.

Each day is an opportunity for a fresh start. No matter how stressful, frustrating, or long yesterday was, today is a new day. This should encourage us to place an importance on sleep. We need rest. Sleep is how we recharge our minds and strengthen our bodies. It is proven that our muscles actually repair themselves while we sleep. One way that you can prioritize sleep is by creating a sleep routine. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and set an alarm to wake up at the same time each morning. Everyone is different and requires a different amount of sleep, so figure out what that means for you and stick to it. By doing this, your body gets in a natural routine and you will feel more rested and prepared for the next day.

Another way that you can prioritize sleep is by limiting screen time. Instead of staring at your phone or watching tv, try reading a book or listening to a podcast or audiobook. The blue light from tv screens and cell phones can be detrimental to your sleep, because they restrict the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that controls your sleep cycle, and lack of it can result in lack of sleep. Screens are keeping us awake. In order to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, we need to reduce the time we spend staring at our phone before bed.

Lastly, prioritize sleep by reducing the amount of caffeine you drink before bed. Most of us are probably guilty of making that late-night trip to Starbucks the night before a big test. Although it may have helped you stay awake to study longer, how did you feel the next day? We need rest in order to be at our best mentally. Try to avoid caffeinated drinks or snacks with a lot of sugar before you go to sleep and replace that with foods that will help you sleep. Kiwis, for example, produce melatonin, which can help you fall asleep faster. Give it a shot the next time you want to grab a soda and see what a difference it makes!

In order to be at your best physically and mentally, you need rest. We all do. We hope that you realize the importance of sleep and use these tips to make it a priority. A huge step in being bold, raw, inspired, and extraordinary each day is sleep.

Check out these sources for more tips on sleep:

https://www.sleep.org/articles/ways-technology-affects-sleep/

National Sleep Foundation