While holidays can be a lovely time of rest and relaxation, they aren’t always great for our sleep health.It’s really easy to form bad sleep habits during a summer break, and this can cause some real problems when the inevitable return to work or school rolls back around.But this doesn’t have to be the case!Here are some tips for how you can better prepare for the return to a normal routine while also getting the best sleep possible.1. Change your bedtime gradually.If you’re going to bed too late for your normal routine, start changing your bedtime by half an hour each day. This will allow your body and mind to adjust slowly and ensure that you’re falling asleep early enough for a full 7-9 hours or rest in time for work to resume.2. Establish a regular sleep schedule (for weekends too!)Our brain expects us to wake up at the same time every day, and the best way to make that into a blessing rather than a burden is to have a set sleeping schedule. Establishing a set bedtime is a great way make sure you’re always getting the rest you need.3. Follow basic sleep hygeieneSome elements of sleep hygiene are common sense, others need to be taught. Here are some basic tips to give you the best sleep possible:
- No eating the few hours before bed
- Exercise daily
- Avoid screentime in the hour before bed
- Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool
Although the above tips might seem too simple to be worth doing, try them anyway. You’ll be surprise by the difference that putting even a little effort towards sleep can make.Sleep well, live well.
