Five Sleep Tips for World Sleep Day Today

Today is World Sleep Day, so here are five tips on how to get a better night’s sleep from sleep expert Fitbit.

Sleep like a baby with 5 sleep tips from Fitbit. Photo by Tara Raye on Unsplash.

Sleep like a baby with 5 sleep tips from Fitbit. Photo by Tara Raye on Unsplash.

Getting our eight hours of quality sleep every night is important as adequate sleep and regular sleep patterns help rejuvenate our mood regulation, cognitive function, and overall health.

According to Fitbit’s data in 2020, Singaporeans were sleeping more last year.

However, Singaporeans still had one of the lowest sleep durations in the region, indicating there is still room for us to improve our quality of sleep.

So here are five tips for ways you can sleep longer and get a better quality shut eye.

Sleep Tip 1: Power nap like a pro

If you are struggling to stay focused during the day, consider napping to gain some additional sleep-related benefits.

The optimal duration of a nap is anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.

It can offer a variety of health benefits from increased alertness, better endurance, increased creativity, and a lowered risk of heart disease.

The ideal time for a power nap is usually between 1-3 pm.

If you are unable to get a nap in before 3 pm, it is best to push through and wait for your bedtime, as napping too close to bedtime can impact your nightly sleep.

Sleep Tip 2: Clear the air

Research shows that people may get better quality sleep when fresh air circulates in the bedroom.

A recent study found that when people slept in rooms with ventilation – either with an open window or open door, their sleep improved as they woke up fewer times per night.

As carbon dioxide levels in the room were lower, people slept more soundly, and their awakenings decreased.

They also felt better rested the next morning with improved concentration levels.

This may be because ventilated rooms are likely to contain more oxygen, which may be linked to better cognition.

Try opening your windows slightly to minimise entry of noise and light, while allowing for better air circulation for better sleep.

Sleep Tip 3: Hold on that last cookie before bedtime

Eating or drinking too close to bedtime can focus your body on digestion, not sleeping.

If you have a consistent body rhythm of eating dinner at 6 pm and having a snack at 8 pm, your body may think that it is not time for it to shut down yet.

If you can, avoid eating for two hours before your bedtime.

Sleep Tip 4: Take a shower

Showering is relaxing and lowers your body temperature, signalling that it is time for bed.

Falling core body temperature is associated with rises in melatonin levels in the body, which facilitates our transition to sleep and promotes consistent, quality rest.

To encourage your body temperature to drop even more, try cooling down the air in your bedroom with a fan or simply by opening a window.

Sleep Tip 5: Create your ideal sleep sanctuary

Your environment can impact your sleep.

To improve the quality and duration of your sleep, a few easy changes to your sleep environment can make a big difference.

Sleep in total blackness and silence. An eye mask and earplugs can help.
Sleep at the right temperature. The optimal bedroom temperature for quality sleep is between 15 – 21 Celsius (°C).
If there are noises in your environment you are unable to control (like loud neighbours or street noise), use a white noise machine to drown out disruptive noises.

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