World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day is an annual event, and intended to be a celebration of sleep. It is also a call to action on important issues related to sleep. These include medicine, education, social aspects and driving. World Sleep Day is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society. It’s goal aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. The color black represents sleep disorders.

Just a few highlights:

• World Sleep Day is intended to be a celebration of sleep. It is also a call to action on important issues related to sleep. These include, for example, medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society. Its goal aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders.
• World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year (exact date changes annually, but always on a Friday).
• World Sleep Day, in addition, has drawn attention from media and celebrities around the globe.
• More than 88 countries around the world have participated in this awareness day.

World Sleep Society

World Sleep Society is not a patient organization. It is, however, made up of a membership of sleep medicine and research professionals serving patients.

Highlighted on the World Sleep Day website, you will find information answering questions such as:

• How much sleep should a person get each night? How common is insomnia?
• What are tips for getting a good night’s sleep?
• Is my child sleeping the recommended number of hours?
• What are the consequences of not getting enough sleep? How many people are not getting the recommended amount of sleep?
• Do you have expert overviews of sleep disorders?

Sleep Tips

Take a nap

Capitalize on the afternoon lull with a little siesta. Further, research finds you only need about 20 minutes to reap the benefits of napping, which include a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, healthier blood pressure, and a brain health boost. Learn to work naps into your schedule.

Sniff lavender

Before hitting the sack, take a whiff of lavender. This purple plant has some serious sleep-promoting properties. One study reports inhaling lavender before bed increases the amount of deep sleep you experience. If you want to venture outside of lavender, try one of these other effective essential oils for sleep.

Drink a glass of tart cherry juice

Downing a glass of merlot before bed? Not such a hot idea, as alcohol can wreck your sleep. A glass of tart cherry juice on the other hand? That’s a much better choice. In addition, studies show tart cherries are an excellent natural sleep aid. Here’s exactly how much tart cherry juice you need for better sleep. Cheers!

Enjoy a bath

One of the best pre-bedtime activities you can do is take a warm bath. Here’s why: Your body temperature naturally dips at night, helping you fall asleep. A warm bath raises your temperature, but the cool down you experience once you’re out of the tub primes you for sleep. Here’s how to enhance your bath for maximum sleepiness.

Try a five-minute meditation

Meditation relieves anxiety, stress, fatigue, and pain. Research finds it can even help you catch Z’s and curb insomnia. You don’t need to dedicate a ton of time to meditation to see the results—as little as five minutes of mindfulness will do the trick. Here’s how to make meditation part of your bedtime routine.

Tidy up your bedroom

World Sleep Day falls smack-dab in the middle of spring cleaning season—so now’s the perfect time to get serious about decluttering. Clutter can cause stress, which makes it harder to get shuteye. One study even shows people who are at risk of hoarding disorder suffer from poor sleep. The Uncluttered Life offers decluttering services.

Stretch your body

A nightly stretching practice can help your body understand it’s time for bed. Gentle stretches like child’s pose and seated twist will get you in the mood for sleep and help prevent you from waking up in pain. Here are step-by-step instructions for relaxing nighttime stretches.

Give your phone a break

The bright blue light emitted by your phone can keep you up at night. If you’re addicted to the pre-bed scroll through Instagram, Facebook, and work emails, it’s time to clean up your sleep hygiene. Instead of scrolling through social media from bed, listen to a relaxing podcast or a guided meditation—and use Bluetooth headphones so you can keep your phone in another room. Here are more ways to break up with your phone before bed.

Eat a late-night snack

Late-night snacks have a bad reputation when it comes to sleep. In addition, eating too close to bedtime can keep you awake or disrupt your sleep with indigestion and acid reflux. But some foods, like avocados and oatmeal, actually promote sleep. So if you’re feeling hungry before bed, a little (non-spicy) guacamole could be just the ticket. Here are the best late-night snacks to eat before bed.

Upgrade your mattress and bedding

The right mattress and bedding can make it easier to get a good night’s sleep. So this World Sleep Day, invest in quality shuteye with a comfortable new mattress and cozy sheets and pillows.