Getting sufficient rest is imperative for your health and lifestyle, but did you know that getting too much sleep can be a sign of much bigger problems, as well? As a matter of fact, too much sleep is linked to the same health risks as sleeping too little, including heart disease, metabolic problems, and difficulty with your memory. For these reasons, it is important to understand your sleeping habits so that you can ensure that you are healthy, productive, and happy.

What is considered the best amount of rest

If you are going through your day feeling sluggish, drowsy, or fatigued after a full night’s rest then it is time to consider your sleep and health habits. Although the amount of sleep that would be considered normal varies from person to person, most medical experts agree that a person should feel alert throughout their day if they have had between 7 to 9 hours of sleep throughout the night. If a person finds that they are sleeping over 9 hours each night and are still drowsy throughout the day, they might want to consider seeking medical advice to ensure they are not suffering from hypersomnia. However, if you are struggling throughout the night to sleep without some sort of internal interruption, then you might want to follow these simple techniques to help you get the rest you need to be your very best.

• Turn off your electronics! This is a difficult habit to break because it involves your turning off the television, radio, laptop, or your smartphone. What you may not know is that the artificial light that emanates from these items fools your brain into thinking that it is still daytime and that it needs to remain active. According to the Alaska Sleep Clinic, this deception can disrupt your circadian rhythm, which in turn leads to poorer sleep at night and feeling rundown during the day. Instead of allowing electronics to lull you to sleep, ditch them and rely instead on the dark quiet surroundings of your room. Your brain might remain active for a few moments with overthinking, but in time it will slow itself down.
• Kick the caffeine before bedtime. You may know that drinking caffeinated drinks will only keep you wired throughout the night, but did you know that some nighttime teas that you drink may contain caffeine? Be sure to read the label of the teas that you drink prior to using them as an aid for nighttime sleeping relief.
• Watch what you eat before bedtime. Spicy, fatty, or sugary foods are a big no-no before bedtime. Spicy foods tend to lead to heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux…all of which might hinder your ability to get the best rest throughout the night. Fatty foods during the day tend to make you oversleep with naps that extend longer than an hour. When you sleep throughout the day, you might find that sleeping at night will be more of a struggle. Sugary foods cause the same problems as caffeine by providing you with temporary energy boosts, which is something you don’t need when trying to get your nightly rest.

Everything about your lifestyle tends to revolve around your health and the foods you eat. When you feel good and eat right, you will have more energy throughout your day. When you have a busy, energized day, you can rest assured that your body will wind itself down by the end of the day so that it can get the rest that it needs.