By Ambriale Davis
35% of adults are not getting the appropriate amount of sleep each night.1 Poor sleep patterns and insufficient sleep put you at a higher risk for chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and shortened life expectancy. 2
The CDC recommends the average school age child to get 9 to 12 hours of sleep, teen to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep, and adult to get 7 or more hours of sleep per 24 hours.3 The key to obtaining an optimal amount of sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene and healthy sleep habits. These habits can help you obtain a better night’s rest and improve overall sleep heath. Staying on track with daily routines can help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule. This schedule is important to maintain throughout the week (even on vacations).
If you have trouble sleeping, the National Sleep Foundation recommends good sleep hygiene tips such as a bedtime ritual, avoiding naps, daily exercise, and ensuring your sleep environment is quiet, distraction free, and comfortable.4 If you’ve felt like your sleep environment is inhibiting your ability to fall asleep, check out local home goods stores for blankets, pillows, and drapes that appeal to you. If you don’t know what to look for, think about making a Pinterest board for your ideal bedroom. A good sleep schedule starts with creating good sleep habits that work best for you, and incorporating those into your everyday life.
- https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0215-enough-sleep.html
- http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-and-disease-ris
- https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html
- https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips