5 Tips for Ensuring Your Family Gets a Better Night’s Sleep

When caring for your family’s health, it’s not just about healthy meals and staying active. Sleep is one of the most crucial parts of a healthy lifestyle, as the body and mind can easily begin to deteriorate if you aren’t getting enough of it.  

How Can Lack of Sleep Affect Your Family’s Health? 

The following problems can occur from failing to get enough sleep:  

*Compromised immune system  

*Memory problems 

*Trouble concentrating  

*High blood pressure 

*Weight gain 

*Long-term health implications, like heart disease or diabetes. Hence regular online blood test is required for the entire family suffering from insomnia to ensure you are in the best of health as you focus on mending your sleeping habits.   

How Can You Improve Your Family’s Sleep Quality? 

Taking the right steps to ensure a more comfortable night’s sleep might be easier than you think.  

1)Understand How Many Hours of Sleep Are Needed  

This varies depending on age and can be unique to the individual. However, on average, most adults require 7 to 9 hours of good sleep, toddlers around 12 hours of sleep, and most children around 10 hours of sleep. Teenagers will be closer to adults, needing at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep.  

Understanding this means you can then see if your bedtime routine is actually giving your family the rest it needs. 

2) Pay Attention to Any Sleep Issues  

If you’re struggling even though you always ensure you go to bed early enough to get the right amount of sleep, or if you still feel exhausted after getting a generous number of hours, it may be that there is another problem. Issues such as snoring or sleep apnea may be preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep. If you suspect you or any family members are having issues with sleep apnea, medical professionals like Velda Rose Medical Center will be able to help you with treatment.  

3) Update Your Mattress  

If you find yourself less than comfortable in your bed and it’s affecting your sleep, it may be that your current mattress isn’t the right firmness for you. Some people sleep better with a harder mattress, and others with a softer mattress, or even memory foam. You can visit a mattress store to test out different firmness ratings to find your most comfortable bed setup and therefore get a better night’s sleep.  

4) Switch Off Electrical Devices Before Bed  

If your family is indulging in screen time either directly before they go to bed, or actually in bed, then you’re compromising your ability to easily fall asleep. Staring at a screen will make your eyes and mind alert, and looking through social media before bed, for example, will do nothing to help to relax your mind ready for sleep.  

Try to limit family electronics at night, perhaps an hour or two before bedtime.  

5) Set Up Your Bedrooms for Sleep  

Take the time to understand how every family member best sleeps. Younger children may need a nightlight to be able to fall asleep and feel more secure; as an adult, you may feel more able to drift into sleep if you play relaxing music on a timer, or if you burn incense or have scented candles in your room which you can light in preparation and extinguish when bedtime arrives.