Thirty One Days Of Happiness Tips Day 6

                                                                                                       Image:Alexas Fotos from Pixabay

Good sleep helps the body and brain in many ways and is essential for optimal functioning. It is common to feel cranky, frustrated, angry or sad when you are tired, especially if you regularly get insufficient sleep. Research has found a connection between regularly getting insufficient sleep and Depression. Therefore, it won't surprise you to hear regularly getting enough good quality sleep will contribute to your level of happiness.

How much sleep do you need?

Between seven and nine hours sleep per night is usually recommended but the suggested amount varies from one information source to another. Age and genetics influence the amount of sleep an individual finds optimal.

Does sleeping come easily to you?

Some people find it easy to get a good night's sleep but there are those who struggle to fall asleep or who find they can't get back to sleep if they wake during the night. Sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep aponea, narcolepsy and hypersomnia may be treated by consulting a medical professional.

A comfortable bed can help you get a good sleep      Image: Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Everyone is different

There is plenty of advice about how to get a better night's sleep and while a particular suggestion may work for some people it may not help others. Practices or habits which may cause a sleep disturbance for one person may not bother the next. An example of this is how coffee effects a person's sleep. While some people are sensitive to the caffeine in coffee, finding it keeps them awake, others claim it has no effect on their ability to sleep.

Are daytime naps okay?

Some sleep experts advise against daytime napping, saying it can interfere with night time sleep. Others say a short nap is fine and can have benefits. Read more here - http://healthyhints.com.au/to-nap-or-not-to-nap/

Reading before going to bed

There are those who find reading a book or magazine helps them relax and fall asleep. It is recommended to read something that isn't too mentally stimulating. Reading from an electronic device is not a good idea because the blue light interferes with the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin helps one sleep.

Some people don't find reading helpful. There are sleep experts who do not recommend reading in bed, saying the bed should just be for sleeping (and sex).

I find reading helps me fall asleep and I haven't noticed any difference between when I sit in a chair to read and sitting up in bed reading. For more about reading helping you sleep, check out http://healthyhints.com.au/how-bedtime-reading-can-help-you-sleep/

Reading helps some people fall asleep           Image:Tom und Nicki Loschner from Pixabay

Sometimes one just can't get enough sleep due to the presence of a baby who will need feeds during the night or is restless. I remember those days and am grateful to be able to get a good night's sleep these days.

It is worth doing what you can to improve the quality of your sleep and the amount of sleep you get each night as it is likely to contribute to your happiness.