Most of us have had to adapt our schedules these days but staying true to the routines that have long sustained us—sleep in particular—will help us now and in the future. Making sure we get enough sleep can be a challenge right now. There is way too much news to absorb, change is everywhere, and the things we depend on don’t feel as certain as they once did. Many of us are anxious and stressed out by it all. Sleep—the great restorer—is a more urgent need than ever before. Sleep is essential to good health. A basic human drive, it ought to be something automatic and simple. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with getting good sleep on a regular basis. We no longer go to bed with the sun and rise with the birds. Artificial light and the pressures of the modern world have seen to that, but we still need the same kind of consistent, restorative sleep we evolved to get, especially when things are uncertain.
Good sleep keeps our bodies running smoothly, helping us take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. In fact, getting great sleep improves your alertness, enhances your mental functioning, boosts your mood, and keeps immune system running at top capacity. Missing even a few hours of sleep—or enduring interrupted sleep because you or your partner is snoring—can diminish your quality of life.
You can help protect your sleep—and all the benefits that come with it— by maintaining a great sleep routine, no matter what else is going on in the world. Here are some tips that can help:
Many of us sleep with a partner. You will be more rested if you can help your partner get better sleep, too. See if you can establish these routines as a family and look for solutions to nighttime disruptions. If you’ve got a noisy partner, look for ways to help them—and you—sleep more soundly.
Disclaimer This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor and is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. Philips disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.