In the hustle and bustle of our busy daily lives, many of us may be overlooking the most indispensable part of our life, Sleep. However, if we take a moment to think about the resulting consequences of not getting enough sleep, we may find that it can majorly impact our overall well-being. Deprioritising sleep can be for varied reasons, a work deadline to meet or to just binge watch our favourite show. While we may not have much choice over the former, constant lack of sleep does not only affect our physical health, but may also have implications on our mental health. When you do not get sufficient, good quality sleep, you may feel you have a shorter fuse, or it’s harder for you to focus on tasks at hand. Lack of sleep can also be linked to health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

There are a multitude of reasons why getting a good night’s rest is important. You wake up refreshed and rejuvenated after a good sleep, and ready to tackle the day, which in turn is more likely to give you a productive day. A good night’s sleep can positively affect your mood and emotions which in turn can help keep your creative juices flowing. In a nutshell, there are many reasons for you to be getting a good 7 or more hours of uninterrupted sleep.

It is now obvious that a good night’s sleep is a key for our overall well-being. So, we must start prioritising our sleep and fix our sleep schedule for a healthy living. If you are one of those who often have trouble falling asleep, here are 6 things you can do to get a good night’s sleep:

Melatonin has other benefits beyond sleep such as below:

• Move your body during the day
  There are many benefits of exercising, regular physical activity can promote good sleep. Exercising and other physical activities during the day are important to stay healthy, but we do not recommend doing strenuous physical activity 3-4 hours before going to bed. Relaxing activities like gentle yoga or stretching are suitable just before bed.
• Avoid screen time before bedtime
  Blue light emissions from devices are known to reduce Melatonin levels which is a body’s natural substance to regulate your sleep cycle. So instead, you can listen to music or read a book. Relaxing music can help you unwind and help you get ready to sleep.
• Stick to a schedule
  Maintain a regular wake-up and sleep time. Your body will eventually get used to this routine and you’ll automatically feel the need to hit the sack when your bedtime is closer.
• Watch what and when you eat
  Certain food items can cause sleeplessness. Caffeine is one such food that can mess with your sleep schedule. Also, you might want to avoid spicy food, alcohol and food with high fat content. It is advisable to eat in moderation – overeating or not eating enough food can cause you to stay awake at night. So, watch what and when you eat.
• Set the mood before bedtime
  Aromatherapy is known to be helpful for sleep. The relaxing fragrance of essential oils can help you get ready to sleep. Similarly, hot showers can help you to relax and ease you into a sleep routine. You may also want to lower the temperature of your room, dim your lights, or get blackout curtains to create a cosy yet comfortable environment to fall asleep.
• Sleep supplements
  Apart from the above tips to help you drift off to sleep, taking Melatonin sleep supplement can support your good night’s rest by helping you to fall asleep fast. Melatonin is a substance that is naturally produced by your body to signal to you that it is time to go to sleep. Melatonin supplementation works similarly and can be found in various product forms in the market, such as pills and gummies. Other natural ingredients such as Chamomile, Lavender and Valerian Root are traditionally known for relaxation.