8 Things You Shouldn't Do Before Bed
时间：2012-10-17 03:39:28
（单词翻译:单击）
8 Things You Shouldn't Do Before Bed
Oh, the power of a good night’s sleep. A whole gamut1 of positive benefits can be seen from getting enough rest, but for many of us, hitting the sack can be challenging. There’s plenty of advice out there about what to do to get to sleep but what about what not to do? Click through for some of the pre-bedtime activities that could be hurting your chance at getting a good night’s sleep.
1. Exercise
No, you don’t get to ditch your yoga mat or running shoes all together. Exercise is a vital activity for your health, and can actually contribute to getting better-quality sleep. The problem, though, is that exercising within three hours of bedtime can raise your body temperature, and make
dozing2 off more difficult. Breaking a sweat, then, is best left for earlier in the day!
2. Watch TV/Surf the Web
Studies have shown that pre-
slumber3 screen time can
impede4 your body’s ability to fall asleep. The likely culprit? Well, the bright lights of these screens can hinder the development of melatonin, the
hormone5 that promotes sleep. So close that laptop and turn off that TV about an hour before bed.
3. Take a Hot Shower/Bath
Like exercise, hot showers and baths can actually help you fall asleep. The problem, however, comes out of taking one too close to the time you plan on hitting the sack. Being overhea
4. Drink Too Many Fluids
Caffeine, of course, and alcohol both make it difficult to get a good night’s rest. But drinking a lot of any liquid within the last hour or two before you go to bed will lead to those
dreaded6 late night bathroom breaks, and further disrupt your slumber. You shouldn’t go to bed thirsty, however, as you’ll likely wake up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. Balance is key here.
5. Work
Whatever work or school issue it is, it can certainly wait until morning. Getting work done
stimulates7 your brain and can cause you unneeded stress — pretty much the opposite of what you want to feel if you’re trying to fall asleep!
Many of us have done this: you’re reading a really interesting novel and you tell yourself, “Oh just one more page!” Suddenly, it’s 2AM and you have to be awake in four hours. Yep, reading a really interesting book, essay or novel before bed will make it difficult to get to sleep. Perhaps you can remedy it by finding the most boring thing imaginable to read?!
7. Cuddle With Your Pets
As a child, I always wanted to have my beloved pet chihuahua sleep in my (twin) bed. And then came the reality: it’s amazing how much space a 6 pound creature can take up, and how grumpy chihuahuas can be when you disturb their slumber. The point is, sleeping with a pet in your bed can seriously disturb your sleep.
8. Have Serious Conversations
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “don’t go to bed angry.” And, as it turns out, it’s totally accurate! Research has shown that sleeping directly after a fight or traumatic experience will effectively preserve your emotions until you awake. The human body is
adverse9 to falling asleep in dangerous situations — it’s a
defense10 mechanism11. Thus, you’ll have a much harder time falling asleep after a big blowout. It’s best to resolve conflicts before you hit the sack.
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