Are you struggling to get better quality sleep? Investing in a comfortable Orange County mattress is definitely something you should consider (more on that later), but there’s also something else to look at when trying to improve sleep quality; your sleep hygiene. Your sleep hygiene almost singularly determines how you sleep, so if you’re looking for ways to boost sleep quality, improving sleep hygiene is an amazing place to start. 

How to Determine Your Own Sleep Hygiene 

At this point, you may be asking yourself how your own sleep hygiene shapes up. Basically, sleep hygiene is determined by the habits in your routine and environmental factors in your bedroom that impact your quality of sleep. People with good sleep hygiene have a consistent sleep routine and a comfortable bedroom. If you lack either or both, then chances are your sleep hygiene could use some improvement. Other signs that you have poor sleep hygiene include difficulty in falling and staying asleep, inconsistency in sleep quality, and feeling exhausted during your waking hours. If this sounds like you, don’t worry! There are plenty of steps you can take to turn your sleep hygiene around and get that amazing slumber you’ve been after. 

Improving Your Sleep Hygiene With Healthier Habits

1) Wake up and fall asleep at the same time every day. The key to consistent sleep is to wire your brain to associate a specific portion of the day with rest, which is why setting a sleep schedule is important. Any slight deviation might throw your progress off track, so whether you want to nap, sleep in, or stay up; don’t do it! Try to stay consistent with your schedule as much as possible.

2) Reserve some time before bed to relax. By doing so, you help put your body in a calm mindset that makes falling asleep easier. During this time frame, you can stretch, read, listen to music, meditate, do breathing exercises, or whatever else eases your mind. If it relaxes you, do it!   

3) Put down your electronics. Electronics can curb sleepiness by overstimulating your brain. If you use electronics too close to bedtime, you might jeopardize your chance of falling asleep by an appropriate time. Generally, it’s a good idea to turn off all your electronics 30 minutes before bed at a minimum. 

Improving Your Sleep Hygiene With Your Bedroom 

1) Make sure your mattress is comfortable. Unsurprisingly, this is critical when it comes to sleep hygiene. An uncomfortable mattress may lead to discomfort, so it’s worth considering buying a new mattress from your local Orange County mattress store if you find yourself waking up in pain and poorly rested. There, you can test out the different mattress types for yourself in order to find the perfect mattress for your needs! This tip also applies to your bedding; as it’s one of the first things you feel when you hop into bed, of course, it can affect sleep quality! So, along with your mattress, make sure the feel and texture of your bedding are comfortable for you. 

2) Keep your senses in check. You might experience issues falling asleep if any of your senses are overstimulated. For this reason, you should try to keep your room neutral yet comfortable while sleeping. You can do this by setting the room to a comfortable temperature, reducing the chance of light disturbing you with curtains or an eye mask, and keeping distracting noise levels low with earplugs, a fan, calming music, or a white noise machine. 

Sleep Hygiene Isn’t One Size Fits All

Above all, it’s important to note that optimal sleep hygiene looks different for everyone. That is, what works for one person may not work for you because comfort is subjective. Everybody has a unique set of needs when it comes to what helps them fall asleep, so use this list to take what you need to try to figure out ways you can improve your own sleep hygiene and finally get an amazing night’s rest on your comfortable mattress.