Achieving quality sleep isn't always straightforward. While online tips abound, advice from certified sleep experts—backed by research and clinical experience—delivers the most reliable results. Here are the pre-bedtime habits they strictly avoid.
Recent studies reveal that only 49 percent of adults get the recommended 7 hours of sleep per night. Meanwhile, 52 percent report poor sleep quality.
Read also: '3 unexpected consequences of sleep deprivation'
Struggling with sleep? You've likely tried common remedies. Sleep specialists emphasize examining your evening routine. They never do these things before bed:
Staying informed via evening news seems productive, but it often triggers subconscious stress. Topics can evoke anxiety akin to a horror movie, per sleep experts—not ideal for relaxation.
Resist checking emails or tackling work in bed. Your brain associates bed with sleep and intimacy alone. Introducing productivity confuses it, conditioning wakefulness over rest.
Exercise earlier in the day combats insomnia effectively. But intense evening sessions energize you, hindering sleep—even if you aim to tire yourself out.
Steer clear of emotionally charged talks before bed. Confrontations elevate stress hormones, directly undermining your ability to unwind.
Sleep experts cut caffeine entirely after 2 p.m., as its stimulating effects persist for hours.