Tired all the Time? You Might Not be Getting Enough Quality Sleep

Do you find that you’re always yawning? Do you doze off whenever nothing stimulating is happening? Are you generally just tired all the time? If these things are the case, you might not be getting enough sleep. Or, you might be getting enough sleep, but not enough quality sleep. Here’s the thing: you shouldn’t need a cup of coffee every morning to have enough energy for the day. You should have that naturally. Here’s how.

How to Make Sure You Get Enough Quality Sleep

What Happens When I Don’t Get Enough Quality Sleep?

A number of things happen when you can’t get enough quality sleep. The first and most noticeable thing is that you find it hard to roll out of bed in the morning. People who suffer from sleep deprivation often hit their alarm multiple times in the morning, sleep in to the last minute and find themselves very groggy and unresponsive for half an hour to an hour after waking. Generally, people suffering from sleep deprivation have high caffeine dependencies to help them throughout the day.

Those experiencing sleep deprivation often doze off when they aren’t being directly stimulated. For instance, when in a meeting or watching TV, they might simply nod off. More dangerously, some people with extreme sleep deprivation symptoms may find themselves nodding off behind the wheel on their way to work or back.

Additionally, those who don’t get enough quality sleep are often in miserable moods. They tend to be irritable, easily distracted and more prone to getting depressed. In short, being sleep deprived puts you in a terrible mood.

What is Quality Sleep?

If you’re not getting enough quality sleep then you’re going to feel drowsy and groggy all day. That’s no way to go through your life! But, you may ask, what constitutes quality sleep? Generally speaking, quality sleep is sleep that is uninterrupted for 8 straight hours or so. Sleep tends to be more restorative in a quiet, cool, dark room. Constant interruptions, extreme hot or cold in the room you sleep in, or flashing lights (such as televisions) can make your sleep lower quality.

You might be saying that many of these things are unavoidable. However, we’re here to help you figure out how you can make your sleeping space better for your quality of life. Take bake your sleeping space so you can regain your waking hours!

How to Get Better Sleep

Firstly, you should try to stop drinking as much caffeine and alcohol. If you already avoid those substances, good on you! If you don’t, however, it’s time to cut back. Many people find they need a cup of coffee or an energy drink to keep going throughout the day. These drinks are downright terrible for your body and you should avoid them altogether. They can also interrupt your circadian rhythms and make your sleep much more troubled.

Likewise, alcohol is terrible for your sleep schedule. If you often drink heavily, it could be having profound negative effects on your liver and heart, as well as your intestines and brain. If your sleep is fitful and you find it hard to stay asleep through the night, try cutting back on alcohol.

Other Tips

When you lay down for bed, cut off the TV and all lights in the house. In fact, consider taking the TV out of your bedroom. Your bedroom should be a place designed for sleep, exclusively. When it’s bed time, cut your phone off and put it across the room. If you live with noisy neighbors or roommates, invest in some earplugs or a white noise machine to help you tune out the distractions.

Shut your door to block lights or sounds from outside your room. Consider investing in large, blackout drapes to hang over the windows for when you sleep to keep outside lights out and to dampen outside sounds. While these aren’t foolproof methods, they are steps in the right direction.

Lifestyle Changes

If you do shift work for a living, such as working alternating nights, opening shifts and closing shifts, consider changing your line of work. Shift work is terrible on your body, causing you to interrupt your own circadian rhythms and typically resulting in overreliance on caffeine to maintain unhealthy sleeping patterns.

Remember, your quality of life isn’t worth a few dollars. Try to find work with a company that cares more about you than one that will put your health on the line for a quick buck. You’re worth more than that.