You already know that getting too little sleep is bad for your health, but too much sleep is not good for you either! It sounds crazy, but it’s true – sleeping too much OR too little puts your health at risk – insanity, weight gain and illness are just a few of the side effects. So, in the words of Goldilocks – How much is ‘Not too much, and not too little, but juuuuust right’?
Remember when you were a kid and your mom always told you, “You need your 8 hours of sleep!” – she was almost right!
It turns out that the perfect balance is around 7.5 hours a night, most nights. If you plan to stay out and party, then you can stay in dreamland for a few more hours on the next night. But then go back to 7 hours.
It’s best to keep a consistent sleep schedule (even on the weekends), to keep your health in tip-top shape. Your mind and body will thank you.
If you can’t seem to get into the right sleeping routine? Here are some tips:
- Turn off the technology. Avoid “just one more episode” voice in your head. The brightness from your computer, tablet or smartphone screen is a sleep killer.
- No caffeine. A coffee after dinner should not be your nightcap: caffeine will keep you awake. If you really want the taste of coffee, choose decaf.
- Keep cool. South Africa is well-known for its hot summer weather: heat and sleep don’t mix. The best thing for you to do is to wear loose fitting clothes, open a window and sleep with a fan on.
Sorted! No more tossing and turning, running out of “cold sides” of the pillow or waking up feeling exhausted. Sleep well.