You Need More Sleep. Try These 8 Ways to Get It

man lying on bed covering face with hand

As a small business owner, there’s a good chance you’re not getting enough sleep. But, getting to bed a little earlier can help your small business grow because it

  • increases your productivity – When you don’t get enough sleep, you can’t focus as well, so you could be making poor business decisions.
  • helps you build better relationships – When you’re sleepy, you’re more likely to lash out at your employees. If you treat your team members poorly, they’ll start to leave.
  • can improve health – You need to be healthy to run your business. When you get enough sleep, you reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and weight gain.
  • can make you happier – Your happiness will be contagious, and you’ll have a happier workplace all around.

Accepting that you need more sleep is the easy part. Getting enough sleep is much harder. So, try these eight tips to make it happen.

1. Choose the right bed

Making sure you have the right mattress is the first step in getting enough sleep. If you’re not sleeping comfortably, you won’t get quality sleep, no matter how early you go to bed or how late you wake up.

Read also: Early Birds and Night Owls: 3 Tips for Staying Productive in a 9-5 Business

2. Avoid caffeine late in the day

Coffee might help you wake up in the morning, but it could also keep you awake at night. Try to avoid caffeine four to six hours before bedtime to ensure you sleep well.

3. Avoid big meals before bed

If you eat a huge dinner too close to bedtime, the energy used to digest your food may keep you awake. Try to finish big meals at least two hours before you go to sleep. If you want a late-night snack, stick with something rich in protein or fat – like avocados or almond butter.

4. Set a sleep schedule

Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day (even weekends). Your biological clock will stay steady, so you’ll actually be tired at bedtime. When you first set a sleep schedule, set an alarm at night to remind yourself it’s time to go to bed.

Read also: 5 Things to Add to Your Morning Routine for a More Productive Day

5. Turn off your screens

Using your smartphone, computer, or watching TV too close to bedtime will affect your sleep. The light from your devices will tell your brain to stay awake and alert, causing you to forfeit quality slumber. Instead of browsing the internet or watching TV to relax before bed, find something else to do – like yoga, meditation, or reading a book.

6. Don’t work in bed

Make sure you use your bed only for sleeping. If you’re working from home, do it at a desk or your dining room table, not your bed. That way, your body knows it’s time to sleep when you crawl into bed at night.

7. Exercise more often

Exercising helps you sleep better. Exercising doesn’t have to take a lot of time – it could simply be a short walk during lunch.

Read also: 7 Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk

8. Bask in the sun

Sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythms, so you sleep better. Take a walk at lunch or work by a window to get more sunlight during the day.

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