If you have been following our Weekly Health Tips for a while then you know how much importance we put on getting a restful night’s sleep.
But what if you are doing everything right - getting to bed at a routine time and waking up at a routine time and still finding yourself feeling exhausted all the time? Or maybe you live for sleeping in on the weekends? Or are you sleeping a consistent 8 hours a night but feeling like you’ve only slept 2? These could all be signs of a sleeping disorder including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or a circadian rhythm disorder. Other signs include waking up with headaches or having to urinate frequently in the middle of the night. Make sure your wake schedule is consistent and you are getting between 7 and 9 hours a night. To ease yourself into a deep, satisfying sleep, start unwinding at least 90 minutes prior to bed and make sure you are exposed to ample sunlight during the day to activate your circadian system. If you still feel tired all the time even when you are doing all of the above, consider asking your physician to order you an at-home sleep test to check for underlying sleep disorders. As we know, so much of our physical and mental health and wellbeing is tied to having a good night’s rest. And remember sleep debt adds up and isn’t easy to pay off, so don’t wait to get your restful shuteye.