Nobody looks forward to a night of tossing and turning. Yet, sleepless nights are familiar to us all.
A good night’s sleep is essential to help us function at our very best. Sleep governs a number of our physical and mental faculties, making it as important as a balanced diet and regular exercise. Having a discipline sleep cycle is the building block to a sound and energetic mind and body.
If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy sleep cycle, you can consider opting for a sleep tracker. Available in modern wearables such as a smartwatch, a sleep tracker can improve your overall quality of sleep, and ensure that you stay energised and productive through the day.
How a sleep monitor tracks your sleep
Sleep duration: Know the exact amount of time you spend sleeping and calculate your average time of slumber.
Sleep quality: By making records every time your sleep is interrupted, assess how well you truly are sleeping.
Sleep phases: Identify different stage of sleep such as light, deep and REM sleep to better understand your sleep cycle.
Environmental triggers: Identify and eliminate triggers in your bedroom that can negatively affect your ability to sleep.
Lifestyle choices: Set customisable reminders to stay away from wakeful stimulants such as chocolate or caffeine.
The effects of an unhealthy sleep cycle
- Sudden increase in weight
- Weak immune response
- Susceptibility to depression
- Lowered emotional intelligence
- Decrease in productivity and concentration
- Higher chance of heart diseases
Easy ways to improve your sleep cycle
Opt for a reliable sleep tracker and follow these tips for a better night’s sleep.
Follow a schedule
Whether you require 7 or 8 hours of sleep in a day, falling into a daily routine is the key to establishing a healthy circadian rhythm.
Ensure you sleep and rise at the same time for a few weeks, until your body clock naturally coincides with your sleep schedule.
Get the right light exposure
It is essential to expose yourself to bright light through the day time, and minimise exposure to blue light in the evening.
Natural light during the daytime is a great source of energy. However, it is best to abstain from blue light emitted from televisions, laptops and smartphones, an hour before bed time.
Abstain from stimulants
Whether you lean towards coffee, cola or chocolate, stay away from wakeful stimulants close to your bedtime, as they can disrupt your sleep cycle.
Take on a relaxing pre-sleep routine
Activities such as light stretching, reading a book, opting for a hot water shower or indulging in some deep breathing can help put you in the right mindset for sleep.
Minimise day time napping
While a quick 15-20 minute power nap can revitalize your energy levels; sleeping for as long as an hour or more will negatively impact your daily sleep cycle.
Scattered naps during the day can confuse your internal body clock, leading to a lack of sleep during the night.
Your quality of nightly sleep directly correlates to how well you can function through the day. Ensuring that you have a healthy sleep cycle is essential to stay sharp and alert. Noise wearables come with integrated sleep trackers to help you monitor your sleep in a comprehensive way. By identifying periods of restlessness through the night, you can work towards improving your overall quality of sleep.
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