Healthy Sleep Habits
Problems Associated with Poor Sleep Habits
Poor sleep essentially means getting less than the optimal amount of sleep at night. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll likely feel groggy in the morning, fatigued throughout the day and have difficulty paying attention. Some other problems associated with poor sleep include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Inability to multitask
If you’ve formed the habit of going to bed late and getting four or five hours of sleep every night, expecting coffee to get you through the day, you’re doing yourself, your body and your health a disservice. Getting the right amount of sleep can benefit your mental health as well as your physical health, and it can be a beneficial part of your weight loss goals after weight loss surgery. However, if you frequently have difficulty falling asleep or someone has told you that you snore excessively or even stop breathing when you sleep, you may have a sleep disorder and should see your physician to get a proper diagnosis.
Tips for Healthy Sleeping
Here are a few tips for improving your sleep habits after bariatric surgery:
- Create a sleep schedule. Setting a bed time and wake up time will help you to feel more refreshed and invigorated during the day.
- Avoid napping during the day if you can help it. It can make sticking to your sleep schedule difficult.
- If you aren’t already, cut down on the caffeine, specifically in the evenings. Caffeine can actually affect your sleep up to ten hours after drinking it, so stopping after lunch is recommended.
- Quitting smoking can improve sleep. Since nicotine is a stimulant, it can disrupt your sleep, putting you into nicotine withdrawal in the middle of the night.
- When it’s time for bed, turn off any distractions like the computer or television at least thirty minutes before you want to be asleep.