Here are some ways to help improve sleep in order to have good sleep hygiene:
Begin rituals to help you relax each night such as sipping sleepy time tea, doing some light reading, or taking a warm bath.
Get up at the same time every morning
Walk outside and get warm sunlight on your face within the first 30 minutes of waking up. This can help reset your circadian rhythm. Even better if you can stand in the grass barefoot at the same time. Aim to do this every morning for about 10 minutes.
Get blue light blocking glasses during the day and avoiding screen usage (phone, computer, TV) 2 hours before bed!
Make sure to sleep in total darkness with temperature at about 70 degrees
Aim to avoid caffeine after lunch
It’s important to get to the root cause of sleep issues. Often, we will use serum blood testing to check specific hormones to see if these are causing sleep issues. We may even take on a sleeping aid whether natural or pharmaceutical in the meantime
Dr. Shay Herndon
Physician
This blog was written by Dr. Shay Herndon. For more information on her, visit her page by clicking here. You can also schedule a free 15 minute consultation with her by scheduling online or calling our office!