Can I learn how to sleep like a log?
The short answer is, yes you can! Sleep is no longer the mystery that it used to be and you have almost unlimited possibilities to create a sleeping environment that fits you.
Better habits lead to better sleep
You might have noticed that exercise is good for your sleep. And it is. Among many other good things, exercise builds up a brain chemical that is called adenosine. This good-hearted substance not only makes us more tired, it also promotes a deeper sleep. Exercise is also known to release feel good hormones, or endorphins, that make us more content and happier. Just remember not to exercise just before you're about to go to bed. You’ll probably be all worked up and might have a hard time falling asleep.
Don’t go to bed with your mobile
Other habits can affect our sleep negatively. Like coffee, alcohol, tobacco – or using your mobile or laptop in bed.
The thing with mobiles and laptops is the light that they radiate. This blue light tricks our bodies to think it’s time to wake up which makes falling asleep harder. The artificial light (or any kind of light) stops the release of melatonin which is the natural hormone designed to make us tired.
What about coffee. And smoking?
The caffeine in coffee is well-known to make sleep more difficult. Even a single cup of coffee in the afternoon might be enough to make it virtually impossible to fall asleep. Alcohol, on the other hand, relaxes your body and slows down your nervous system. Good, right? No. Because your body may have to spend the entire night dealing with the negative effects of alcohol. So instead of getting a fair chance to rest, it has to work. Since alcohol also relaxes your throat muscles, it makes you more prone to snoring.
It is also known that smokers have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. The nicotine in tobacco affects your body in many ways. Like alcohol, it also tends to prevent your body from total relaxation.
