Most of us are familiar with the term “hygiene.”  Personal hygiene involves activities designed to keep us clean and healthy.  One example is taking showers regularly.  Another example is washing our hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom.  Good dental hygiene includes brushing our teeth, using dental floss and seeing the dentist for checkups.  Hygiene is critical to good health.  But what is “sleep hygiene?”

Do you know the term “sleep hygiene?”

What you do during the day can affect how well you sleep at night.  Some of these things will stop you from getting restful sleep.  Others might make it hard to get to sleep at all.

If you stay up until dawn on weekends, you’ll have trouble getting back into a 9 – 5 workday schedule come Monday morning.

If you drink caffeine after dinner or come home from the gym and go right to bed, you’ll probably have trouble with good quality sleep.  Your mind will be too stimulated for rest to come easily.

If you eat a lot of rich, heavy food in the evening, or drink several glasses of water in the hour before bed, you may wake up in the night with indigestion, or need to get up to use the bathroom.  Then you have to get back to sleep a second time.

If your brain associates your bed with “the place to do work on the cell phone” or “the place to watch TV,” you’ll have a self-made challenge to overcome before you can sleep.

Next week we’ll talk about how to make sure you have good sleep hygiene.

Sleeping isn’t laziness

The modern world places an emphasis on “keeping busy.”  It might be tempting to stay up late in the hopes of getting more done, or having some time for fun after a long work day.  But long term, lack of quality sleep makes it harder to be productive.

What happens when you aren’t properly rested?  Firstly, you can’t think as clearly.  Every task feels harder and takes longer.  Secondly, you don’t feel good, either.   And stress from insufficient sleep makes your body more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.

In conclusion, good quality sleep is as important as proper nutrition, enough water, and regular exercise.

And most people don’t get enough.

If you’ve made a commitment to live a healthier lifestyle, don’t forget to work regular chiropractic care into your routine.  Chiropractic care keeps your body working and functioning at its best.  If you don’t have a regular chiropractor, Sheppard Chiropractic Centre is accepting new patients.  Contact us at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172 to make your appointment.