ANCSLEEP BLOG

Building a sleep routine, or practicing good sleep hygiene, is important for helping your brain shut down and get ready for bed. It is especially useful for those who may struggle with insomnia. Sleep hygiene is a way to train your brain and body for sleep by giving it a regular sequence that it can recognize as something you do before bed. This process is very helpful for good sleep, but it can be difficult to get down. Here are some of the best activities you can do before bed and add into your sleep routine.

Choosing a mattress is a very important decision to make. The comfort of your mattress really determines the type of sleep that you will be able to get. If you find yourself waking up exhausted, or tossing and turning all night, it may be due to the discomfort of your mattress. Read below to check out how to best choose a mattress for your best sleep!

If you find yourself having trouble sleeping with your partner, you may have come across something called a sleep divorce. At first sight, a sleep divorce may sound bad and awful, but in reality, it could be a solution for you and your partner. Think of Ricky and Lucy Ricardo in "I Love Lucy" where they slept in different beds, but still shared the same bedroom. The two slept apart due to different sleep patterns and comfort, not because they didn't love each other. Read more to find out if a sleep divorce may be right for you, and how to best go about it. 

Did you know that what you drink before bed can interrupt your sleep schedule? It's true. Therefore, it's important to be aware of what these drinks are so you can avoid them. Below is a list of six drinks to avoid before going to bed so you can get a great night's sleep. 

Having a bedtime routine is key to getting consistent nights of quality sleep. By improve your bedtime routine habits, you may be able to replace sleep medicine, reduce the burden of sleeping disorders, and improve the overall quality of your life. Without a consistent routine, you may be getting insufficient sleep and begin to suffer from the effects of sleep deprivation:

• Lower quality of life
• Poor eating/drinking habits (i.e., energy drinks, more coffee, etc.)
• Decreased performance

Sleep deprivation is often followed by binge sleeping, which feels good but tends to perpetuate the sleep deprivation cycle. Here are seven necessary steps to set a bedtime sleep routine and schedule.

According to a 2016 CDC press release, 1 in 3 American adults don't get enough sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommends that adults aged 18-60 get at least 7 or more hours of shut-eye per night. However, with more than a third of Americans getting less than the recommended 7 hours, our nation is sorely lacking in quality slumber.

In response to this finding, Wayne Giles, M.D. and director of the CDC's Division of Population Health, remarked, "Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night, rising at the same time each morning, and turning off or removing televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help people get the healthy sleep they need."

Giles' suggestions inspired us to share 4 steps towards achieving better sleep at night by establishing a sleep routine. With so many Americans struggling to get consistent, healthy sleep, we hope that these tips will act as motivators to create wholesome lifestyle habits that will set the stage for better and longer nights of quality rest.