Bad Sleep Habits That Could be Affecting Your Sleep Part 2

Your nightly rituals can play a huge role in how well you sleep at night.

We all have pre-bedtime routines that help us wind down for the night, and those routines are called sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is essential, but it’s important to note that not all sleep hygiene promotes restful sleep. There is such a thing as bad sleep hygiene, and it can rob you of the sleep you need to feel awake and alert. There are a number of sleep habits that can be categorized as bad or unhealthy sleep hygiene, and in our last blog, we went over several of them. Here are a few more bad sleep habits that could be affecting your sleep:

#6. You watch television to fall asleep.

When your mind is working on overdrive, you are desperate to do anything to distract yourself from the endless cycle of thoughts. However, watching television while you are trying to fall asleep is counterproductive. The light from the television can disrupt your circadian rhythm. The same goes for looking at a tablet or a cell phone. Turn off all electronics, and distract yourself from your thoughts by reading an old fashioned book.

#7. You don’t give yourself time to unwind.

No one can go from working right to sleeping. It takes time for you to let go of the stresses of the day and get into a relaxed state of mind, which means giving yourself time to unwind. About an hour or two before you plan to go to bed, do whatever you can do relax. This could include taking a bath, listening to soothing music or even cuddling your furry friend.

#8. You underestimate the power of caffeine.

Caffeine affects different people in different ways, but for the vast majority of people, drinking too much caffeine too late in the day can have serious consequences on their sleep. Caffeine stays in the system a lot longer than most people think. In fact, caffeine could stay in your system as long as eight to 10 hours, so it may be best to skip your afternoon latte or tea.

#9. You eat late at night.

Late night snacks can be tempting, but you’re much better off eating earlier. When you eat late at night, your body has to digest and metabolize while you sleep, which can disrupt your sleep. Additionally, eating before bed causes your blood sugar to surge and then drop again, and when it drops, it can wake you up.

#10. You overstimulate yourself in the middle of the night.

We’ve all heard the advice that, when you can’t sleep, you should get up. Staying in bed can be frustrating if you can’t fall back asleep, but if you get up and overstimulate your brain, like by watching TV or looking at your tablet, you could ruin your chance of getting back to sleep at all. If you do decide to get up when you’re having trouble sleeping, do something relaxing and soothing, like reading a book or crocheting.

Sleep is so important, and if you’ve tried everything to improve your quality of sleep, it might be time to talk to your doctor. Sleep apnea affects millions of people, and there are many people who suffer from it and don’t even know it. If you have sleep apnea, a used CPAP or BIPAP machine may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Here at CPAP Liquidators, we offer a large selection of refurbished CPAP and BIPAP machines, as well as masks, humidifiers and more. Stop practicing bad sleep habits, and shop with us for all of your CPAP and BIPAP needs.