Getting a good night’s sleep is even more important than you think. Sleep deprivation can interfere with work, driving and social activities and have a negative effect on your overall health.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at least 40 million Americans each year suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems.
Sleep expert Sally Ibrahim, MD, of Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center suggests the following tips to get a good night’s sleep:
- Have a consistent bed and wake time routine, and commit to it. This will help regulate sleep patterns.
- Avoid things in the bedroom that make you alert you at night; instead keep the room for sleep and sex.
- Go to bed only when you are ready for sleep. Spending too much time in bed without sleeping can set you up for bad sleep habits.
- Avoid caffeine and other stimulants in the evening.
How much do you know about sleep? Take our Sleep Quiz and find out.
