Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

by Karlynn L. Benson, D.C.

If you are sick, in pain or stressed-out, you might not be getting enough sleep. Sleep is nature’s way of rejuvenating the body. If your sleep is not restful, it might be time to figure out why. 

How can I tell if I’m getting enough sleep? 

Of course if you are yawning all day, you are probably not getting enough sleep. But, there are other signs you might want consider, which are less obvious:

• You are craving junk food and/or you have gained weight
• Your work performance is slipping
• You are drinking more caffeine
• You have a low libido
• Your depressed or just moody
• You're not looking your best
• You have a lack of focus or faulty judgment

And, if you are in pain or your body is out-of-balance, you may not be able to rest properly.

There are many more signs, but being aware of these changes can be significant. 

You can easily check your sleep patterns with the many apps and fitness trackers, like Fitbit, Up by Jawbone or the Apple watch. You can use their apps to see how long you sleep each night along and learn the quality of your sleep. Most people are surprised to know how little quality sleep they actually get each night.   

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Once you have evaluated your sleep, you might want to consider a few of these tips to help you be more restful.

• Have a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on the weekends. 
• Use a pillow between your knees to keep you back aligned.Power down and don’t use electronics 30 minutes before you go to bed.
• Find the right pillow for your neck so that it is in a neutral position. 
• Get regular exercise. It will clear your mind and entice your body to power down.
• Don’t eat or drink late into the evening. Heavy foods will have your body working to digest instead of sleeping soundly. Drinking anything too late will increase the chance you will need to get up and find the bathroom in the middle of the night. Alcoholic drinks will affect the quality of your sleep. 
• Make your bedroom sleep-friendly by darkening the room, and finding ways to drown out or stop other noises

Pain and Sleep Quality

If you are experiencing pain, your sleep will not be quality. Addressing the source of the pain is key. Consider making a chiropractic appointment. The National Sleep Foundation's Sleep.org says, “Chiropractic care helps alleviate discomfort and improve relaxation and blood flow.” 

And, our patients agree. We invite you to check out our testimonial page. 

Skyline Chiropractic wants you to be well-rested and pain-free. Let us know how we can help.