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Everyone looks and feels awful when they haven’t had a good night’s sleep, but the importance of sleep goes far beyond dark circles and baggy eyes. In fact, sleep is so important for your health that those who get less than five hours of sleep tend to have a shorter lifespan than those who sleep for more hours a night.

Sleep also helps to reduce stress, improve your memory, your performance, and your overall quality of life. Unfortunately, lots of people struggle to get to sleep at night, and since you’re here reading this, it’s likely that you’re one of them. Here are some things that you can try to get a good night’s rest.

5 Reasons Why Sleep Is Important To Your Health

Stay On Cycle

Your body runs of cycles, and one of the most important is the sleep-wake cycle. If you get to sleep at roughly the same time every single night, your internal cycle will adjust to this time, so you will find it much easier to get to sleep when the time comes. Avoid sleeping in or going to bed a lot later than usual, as this will confuse your cycle, and could result in an interrupted sleep later on.

Stop Smoking

Everyone knows to avoid caffeine for a few hours before bedtime, but fewer people know that smoking can be just as disruptive. Like caffeine, the nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant, and so can keep you awake just like a coffee would. To improve your sleep, stop smoking a few hours before you intend to go to sleep, or just trying kicking the habit altogether.

Get A Move On

If you’re still full of energy when you’re trying to get to sleep at night, then exercising is a great way to help you get to sleep. Of course, you shouldn’t be doing a gym workout just before bed, but there is plenty that you can do during the day to burn off some energy. Just walking to dog around the block will do you a world of good, and will be great for the dog too!

Stay Sweet

You’re usually encouraged to avoid sweets if you’re struggling to get to sleep at night, especially just before bed, but certain sweets might actually be able to help you out. Gummies, such as the ones from Vapor Vanity, can help you to fall asleep naturally at night, without the need for sleeping pills.

Write About Your Worries

If you suffer from anxiety or there is something that you’re particularly stressed about, then it’s likely that this is affecting your sleep. This stress might not have a simple fix, so it can be difficult to get your mind off it and get to sleep. Writing your worries down on a piece of paper before bed can really help you to put them into perspective, and can help you to calm down enough to fall asleep.

A good night’s sleep is absolutely essential for your health, so if you’re struggling to get to sleep at night, and the tips above aren’t helping you out, then it’s always a sensible idea to go and see your doctor to get some help and advice.