Eating well and getting exercise are extremely important, but people often neglect the keystone of good health: sleep.
While few people like daily workout routines or kale salad, most everyone loves sleep. And a good night’s sleep loves you, too: It boosts mental and physical well-being.
With today’s stressful, highly caffeinated, screen-addicted lifestyles, millions of Americans do not get enough sleep. There are many reasons for this.
A look at the numbers
A big culprit here is television. Nearly half of all respondents said that television often cuts into their sleep. 24% of millennials and 14% of all Americans report that binge watching before bed prevents them from getting enough rest.
Nearly 70% say worry and responsibility prevent them from getting the sleep they need. A racing mind keeps many Americans from getting rest, particularly Gen Xers. Concerns about taking care of others – aging parents or young children – can often lead to neglecting yourself.
However, putting your self-care first is often the best way to care for others. Those who sleep well say they have a healthy balance of taking time for themselves and helping others that need them (39% versus 26%). Of course, if you’re having difficulty sleeping, this might sound easier said than done.
How do you get there? How do you achieve that wonderful, restorative eight hours of sleep? There’s no one right way to do this, but according to the survey, there are several habits good sleepers have:
- Ditch the device: 46% of self-described “good sleepers” never or rarely bring a device to bed.
- Laugh: Those who sleep well are more likely to watch a comedy before sleeping.
- Keep it cool: 45% say that cooling down the bedroom temperature is the No. 1 thing they do to improve sleep.
- Stay tidy: Those who make their bed every morning are less likely to struggle with sleep.
A good night’s sleep can mean the difference between having a wonderful or a horrible day. More and more Americans realize this.
An Individualized Path to Better Sleep
In the past five years, millions of people have embraced software and technology that allows them to track their eating and exercise habits. These small devices give an individualized report to enable people to monitor their activity and adjust to promote good habits and health. These devices can track your sleeping habits and give you a personalized report on how you slept, offering insights on how you might improve your sleeping habits.
Sleep is so individualized, and there’s no one right way to do it. The more you know about how you’re sleeping, the more you can learn what adjustments you should make to sleep better.