Sleep is crucial to our health and wellbeing, but what if you find it hard to actually get some shut eye? We asked Tahlia Thomas, Nutritionist at leading Australian health and wellness company, Happy Healthy You, for some of the most common reasons why you may be lying awake into the early hours of the morning.
Exposure to blue light
Blue light emanates from your electronic devices like your phone, computer and TV. Too much exposure to blue light directly suppresses the body’s natural production of your sleep hormone, melatonin. One of the best things you can do as part of your night-time routine is to avoid screens for an hour before you head to bed.
Tahlia also recommends switching to the ‘night mode’ on your phone after 4:30pm in the afternoon, to reduce your blue light intake even more. Blue light glasses are a great way to filter these rays throughout the day – just wear them when you’re having extended screen time!
Late night snacks
Did you know that eating too late in the evening plays a huge role in the quality of your sleep? The further you eat away from bedtime, the better! This means that both your metabolism and digestive system won’t be working so hard when you get into bed and your body will have a greater focus on getting you into a deep sleep. You’ll also find that this helps you stay asleep for longer throughout the night
Stress less
While it’s easier said done, stressing less equals sleeping more. When we stress, our cortisol levels skyrocket, which has serious consequences for our natural sleep cycles. Does the phrase ‘wired, but tired” resonate for you? Showing your nervous system some love through meditation and mindfulness is one way to calm your mind and body before headed off to sleep. If you need some extra support, adding our Happy Calm formula to your daily routine.