Bustle: How To Get A Better Sleep Routine In 3 Days
Bustle, an online news site, recently interviewed Vernon Williams, MD, a sports neurologist and founder of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, about how to get a better sleep routine in three days.
Sleep isn’t just for restoring your body's energy, Williams told Bustle. Instead, it’s a critical time for overall body healing, regulation and restoration.
“Disordered sleep can affect blood pressure, heart rate, mental status, hormonal and immunological function, as well as a host of other critical aspects of our normal physiology,” Williams told Bustle.
To combat these sleep-related disorders, Williams gave five tips to improve sleep routines:
- Analyzing your current sleep issues.
- Banishing electronics from your bedroom.
- Exposing yourself to more sunlight during the day.
- Finding ways to relax before bed.
- Seeking medical advice when needed.
In order to analyze current sleep routines, Williams suggests asking yourself a list of questions, including:
- Are you able to fall asleep within 15-20 minutes of lying down?
- Do you regularly sleep for a total of seven to nine hours during any given 24-hour time period?
- Is your sleep continuous (not characterized by periods of waking)?
- Do you wake up feeling well-rested?
- When you are awake, do you feel alert and productive throughout most of the day?
“If you answered yes to these questions, then you’re likely on the right track,” Williams told Bustle. “But, if you answered no, then it’s essential to get to the bottom of why your sleep health isn’t all it should be and begin fixing it.”
The idea behind removing electronics, William said, is about being able to sleep without disturbance from electronics that can emit sleep disturbing light even when they aren't on.
“Making a commitment to eliminating them from your sleep space can be a massive help to the overall quality of your sleep,” said Williams.
Read the complete story here, including Williams' advice about seeing a doctor about sleep difficulties.
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai blog: Myths and Facts About a Good Night's Sleep