5 tips for resetting your sleep schedule
You can do more than cut back on caffeine to get better sleep
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Having trouble sleeping well can be overwhelming. While the CDC recommends at least seven hours of sleep for adults, sometimes external factors can get in the way. If you’re feeling sluggish during the day, it may be time to reset your sleep schedule. These are some helpful tips to get you back on track with healthy sleep patterns.
Adjust your wake-up time and be consistent
Change your sleep routine by "making consistency a priority,” the Sleep Foundation suggested. That means picking a wake-up time and bedtime and sticking to it, even on weekends. While the hours you choose are unique to your lifestyle, the ideal sleep schedule should allow for at least seven hours of sleep and fit into your routine consistently.
While it might be tempting to go to bed earlier, experts say it's better to start by changing your wake-up time first. Switching to an earlier bedtime can backfire and cause other issues, like insomnia, Dr. Jennifer L. Martin, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, told The Wall Street Journal. “We don’t want people getting into bed if they’re not sleepy,” she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It’s best to gradually adopt an earlier wake-up time by making adjustments of 15- or 30-minute intervals over a few days, per the Sleep Foundation. Focus on your wake-up time first; your body will get used to getting tired earlier, lining up with your desired bedtime.
Create a welcoming sleep environment
Experts also recommend cultivating an inviting environment conducive to a good night's sleep. “A dark and quiet bedroom is best for promoting restful sleep,” per the Sleep Foundation, and making your bedroom a "haven for rest with a comfortable mattress, pillow and bedding.” The ideal room temperature is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which can vary per person, reported the Sleep Foundation. Temperature is one factor that affects the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock based on the light-and-dark cycle of the sun.
Cleaning up the physical clutter in your room can also be helpful, Dr. Emerson M. Wickwire, a professor and section head of sleep medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, told the Journal. “Physical clutter equates to mental clutter,” he said, noting that research suggests our physical environments can impact physiology, like blood pressure.
Keep a to-do list to help alleviate stress
Having to deal with anxious thoughts or stressing about what you must do the next day in bed at night can sabotage sleep. “Jot down what's on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow,” the Mayo Clinic suggested. Start by organizing and prioritizing your tasks at least an hour before bed. Getting the thoughts “out of your mind and onto a piece of paper is helpful for disconnecting,” Dr. Martin told the Journal.
Be mindful of your exposure to lights.
While natural light “can promote better synchronization of your internal clock,” the Sleep Foundation noted, “keeping your lights on long into the evening can prevent your body from properly transitioning toward sleep.” Smartphones and televisions can overstimulate your mind, and they “emit blue light that can affect circadian timing,” the foundation added.
Light affects the production of melatonin and cortisol, hormones that regulate wakefulness and sleepiness. Morning sunlight is full of light frequencies that “impact your level of alertness during the day and set you up for quality sleep the next night,” Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, medical director of sleep medicine at Millennium Physician Group, told the Journal.
Incorporate physical activities.
Adding regular physical activity to your routine can also encourage better sleep. “However, avoid being active too close to bedtime,” the Mayo Clinic suggested. “Spending time outside every day might be helpful, too,” the clinic added. In terms of how much exercise is best, Charlene Gamaldo, M.D., medical director of Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep at Howard County General Hospital, said people who do at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise could see an improvement in sleep quality that night. “It’s generally not going to take months or years to see a benefit,” Gamaldo said. “And patients don’t need to feel like they have to train for the Boston Marathon to become a better sleeper.”
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Theara Coleman is a Staff Writer for The Week. A New York native, she previously served as a contributing writer and assistant editor for Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news. Theara graduated from Howard University and New York University, receiving her BA and MA in English Literature, respectively. She has a background in education as a former High School English teacher. She brings her passion for reading, writing, and all things nerdy to her work as a journalist.
-
Ben Fountain's 6 favorite books about Haiti
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by Marie Vieux-Chauvet, Katherine Dunham and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 picturesque homes in apartments abroad
Feature Featuring a wall of windows in Costa Rica and a luxury department store-turned-home in New Zealand
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why 2023 has been the year of strikes and labor movements
The Explainer From Hollywood to auto factories, workers are taking to the picket lines
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Doctor says we should not sleep naked because of flatulent spraying
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Six common sleep myths debunked
In Depth Scientists find that many maxims about what makes a good night’s sleep do more harm than good
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Are ‘morning people’ less likely to get breast cancer?
Speed Read Study finds that early risers are 40% less likely to develop the disease than night owls
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Who is the Hat Man? The sleep paralysis nightmare shared around the world
In Depth Shadowy figure has become a dominant character in digital culture, fuelled by TikTok’s fascination with the paranormal
By The Week Staff Last updated