We bet you’re probably finding yourself parked in front of the television more frequently now than ever before. While we’re also guilty of binging Netflix, it’s important to remember that spending too much time in front of a screen packed full of blue light can mess with your sleep.
If you feel like you’re getting to bed later and waking up feeling groggy or tired, and even craving more sweets than usual, this could be the reason.
For our bodies to function optimally, we need roughly 7-9 hours of sleep each night as adults, with children sometimes requiring more depending on their age. Ensuring we get proper sleep is important for our immune system, as our body needs the time to regenerate and fight off any viruses that may have invaded.
So, how can you get the best sleep? Everyone’s style is different, so there isn’t one ‘right’ answer—instead, sticking to a schedule is the best way for you to get adequate slumber.
Let’s find out which type of sleeper you are or your Chronotypes (Fischer, Dorothee et al)
- Lion: A lion sleeper is about 15% of the population—the lion wakes up very early, hits the gym, has a great deal of energy all day long, but shuts down early at night and would rarely be considered ‘the life of the party.’
- Wolf: A wolf sleeper is also roughly 15% of the population. A wolf may be considered ‘lazy’, getting into the groove of their day at around 10-11 AM. Productivity wise, they may find they’re doing the most around 8 PM, and heading to bed around midnight or later.
- Bear: A bear sleeper represents about 50% of the population. A bear rises early with the sun and goes to bed shortly after dusk.
- Owl: The night owl is wide awake in the evenings and well after midnight, being most productive around 1 AM.
As we mentioned above, there’s no real “winning animal” when it comes to which group gets the best sleep—instead, it comes down to staying on a schedule and practicing good sleep hygiene, like limiting screen time before bed, staying away from caffeine in the hours leading up to slumber, and not eating a large meal right before bed.
This is Part 2 of this blog series. If you missed the beginning, check out Part 1 here.
In part three, we will discuss the importance of shopping the rainbow and limiting sugar Stay tuned!