Bad Sleeping Patterns and How to Avoid Them

When it comes to sleep, you might have bad sleeping patterns & habits, and not even realize it.

Most people don't realize that some of the things you do at night can put a damper on getting a good night's sleep.

It's very important to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Do we all get that luxury? No we don't, that's why we are going to take a look at several sleep habits that are bad for you and how to avoid them. (sleepadvisor.org)

1. Exercising too close to bedtime. I used to exercise just a few hours before bedtime and I could never get a good night's sleep because I was wide awake. When you exercise you get a rush of endorphins, and you increase adrenaline and cortisol levels in your bloodstream. The best thing you can do is plan your workouts for earlier in the day.

2. Using electronics in your bed. This is a big no-no if you're trying to relax so you can get a good night's rest. Shut off all your devices when they're in your bedroom and yes, that means the television too. Lights from gadgets will likely serve to keep you awake.

3. Sleeping in on the weekends. I do this all the time and I know that it messes up my sleep cycle throughout the rest of the week. You're more likely to be sleep deprived on Monday morning, and the sleep deficit is likely to build during the week. Try and maintain a consistent sleeping schedule every day, including weekends.

4. Drinking alcohol before bed. It's true that alcohol may cause you to fall asleep faster, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Alcohol can make you to feel drowsy causing you to fall asleep earlier than normal. Once the alcohol effects wear off, you might wake up and have a difficult time falling back to sleep.

According to sleepadvisor.org, not getting regular amounts of sleep on a consistent basis can also wreak havoc on your daily life.