Half of Australian’s say they don’t get enough sleep, mostly due to work or simply having “ too much to do”.
Besides causing excessive daytime sleepiness, there is now mounting evidence that not getting enough sleep can actually make sick. According to a new study, people who sleep five hours or less a night were twice as likely to catch a cold or get an infection (like the flu or pneumonia) than people who slept seven hours or more.
In addition, lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.
So if you need a reason to have an early night, this is it! Individuals need to start thinking about investing in more sleep. It needs to be one of our top healthy living priorities as this research shows that our health may just depend on it.
Checklist for a good night sleep
1. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol
2. Exercise during the day or in the morning if possible
3. Make sure the bedroom is cool, dark and quiet
4. Develop a routine- go to bed and wake up at the same time each day
5. Remove all screens from the bedroom – backlit screens give cues to the body clock.
6. Relax the mind - start winding down an hour before you get into bed
7. Relax the body – try some gentle stretching and use rhythmic breathing and relaxation exercises.