Blue Zones Tips for Sleeping Soundly

When we’re feeling stressed or pressed for time, many of us are tempted to give up a few precious hours of sleep to tick a few more items off our to-do lists. But trading too much sleep for wakefulness comes at a cost.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Adults who sleep less than 7 hours each night are more likely to say they have had health problems, including heart attack, asthma, and depression. Some of these health problems raise the risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke [including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity].”¹

Getting a good night’s rest is also important for your brain health, as appropriate amounts of sleep can improve cognitive performance, aid in memory consolidation, and help keep us in better moods. ²

Is your bedroom design setting you up for sleep success? If you’re waking up in the morning and feeling anything other than well-rested, try a few of these tips for better sleep.

• Lower the temperature on your thermostat to 65 degrees Farenheit at bedtime. Temperatures below 54F or above 75F can actually wake you up in the middle of the night.
• Turn your digital clockface away from the bedside to limit the sleep disruption from the light. In addition, hiding your clock from your line of sight will help you avoid clock watching during the night.
• Make your room as dark as possible by hanging light-blocking shades or wearing a sleep mask.

For more helpful tips on how to catch a better night’s Zzzs, download the Blue Zones Bedroom Checklist and design your den for optimal sleep.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” – Irish Proverb  

1. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/sleep.htm
2. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health