Britt Jones
There are some things people do that sets them up for a good day, and it all starts with those crucial few moments after they wake up.
But while you might think you’ve got the best morning habit to set yourself up so success at night, you could be wrong.
Thankfully, sleep doctors have come out to let you know exactly what you’re doing wrong so you can create a better routine for your sleep health.
Speaking to the Huffington Post, the science buffs shared their top tips for getting a better night's sleep and what you should stop doing to help yourself nod off soundly.
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Dr Chester Wu is a sleep medicine specialist who believes that your internal clock can be disrupted by light.
He said: “The circadian rhythm, your internal biological clock, operates on a roughly 24-hour cycle and dictates when you feel awake or sleepy, largely influenced by light exposure.
“Health behaviors in the morning reinforce a strong circadian rhythm, promoting wakefulness during the day and sleepiness at night.”
He also went on to say that you can develop sleep issues from sleeping at irregular times or taking in too much light during the evening.
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That mean no more TikTok scrolling for you!
But what's the main thing that people who sleep soundly never do?
Stay in bed after their alarm blares.
I’m so guilty of this but those extra minutes feel well deserved.
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However, Wu advised: “I try not to linger in bed because I definitely feel like that causes me to feel more lazy or groggy.”
And he’s not alone.
Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep expert, agreed that staying in bed after your alarm goes off is a recipe for disaster.
She explained: “I never stay in bed and do activities that aren’t related to sleep and intimacy. This means when I wake up, I get out of bed immediately and go somewhere else in my house.
“This helps to maintain my brain’s association that the bedroom is only a place of rest, which promotes high-quality sleep.”
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Even more unbelievable is that yet another sleep expert agrees with this too, which probably means it’s the golden rule of sleep health.
Dr Chris Winter never stays in his ‘dark bedroom’ as it’s ‘essential to get into the light. Light effectively shuts off your brain’s production of melatonin and lets your body know the day has begun.’
So, now we know what we should be avoiding first thing, what should we do instead?
According to Rohrscheib, it's best to expose yourself to natural sunlight by going outside or sitting by a window within the first half hour of being up.
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This is to keep the ‘circadian rhythm well-regulated’.
Others recommend kicking the day off with exercise, and to make your bed so you're not tempted to crawl back into it.
Noted!