by Susanna Khoo
There are things in life that we often take for granted. Sleep is at times one of them. As our schedules get busier, one of the first things that we start to ignore is how much time we devote to sleep. Yet a lack of sleep can have grave consequences to your health. For instance, a prolonged lack of sleep is said has the same devastating effects on the body as if you were intoxicated with alcohol, according to the Journal of Applied Sports Science.

However, merely clocking in more hours to sleep doesn’t necessarily mean that you will awaken well rested. It’s not just the quantity, but really, the quality of your sleep. Here are some pointers on how you can get the most out of your sleep time:

Grove To The Right Rhythm
Find ways to understand your own sleep cycle – it is different from one individual to another. This is also known as your Circadian Cycle. Your sleep patterns are in 25 hour cycles and since we only have 24 hours in a day, it’s really easy to mess up your body rhythms whenever you stay awake too long or sleep at the wrong times. Be aware and keep tabs of your own body rhythms and make sure to get some shut eye when you need it. Maintain regular sleeping and waking times as much as you can help it.

However, merely clocking in more hours to sleep doesn’t necessarily mean that you will awaken well rested. It’s not just the quantity, but really, the quality of your sleep. Here are some pointers on how you can get the most out of your sleep time:

Carve A Routine
Establish a small routine that you can do to wind down at the end of each day. Take a warm shower, do a bit of reading or listen to some soothing music. Anything that helps you relax and quieten down will certainly help get you a better night’s sleep.

Set The Tone
Make sure that the place where you sleep is dimly lit or better still, completely dark. As much as possible, keep noise levels to a bare minimum and try to keep your bedroom temperature cool. This helps stimulate quality snooze time.

Watch That Diet
What you eat also influences how well you sleep. For instance, consuming food that contains caffeine - such as coffee or chocolate - around 4 hours to your intended bedtime may end up hindering your sleep. In contrast, taking a warm glass of milk is said to be helpful. A daily diet consisting of more natural foods with carbohydrate content is also recommended to aid better sleep – beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Just Rilax
It is hard to get a good night’s sleep if your mind is full of worry or your body is tensed up. Rilax Zzz helps you fall asleep and stay alseep so that you wake up refreshed and ready to start a new day. It is safe for consumption by both adults and children above 12 years old and has been proven to be helpful in keeping sleeping disorders at bay. It comes with added L-Theanine, a green tea extract, in addition to the original formula that contains Lactium, a unique bioactive milk peptide. Both ingredients work synergistically and more effectively to promote relaxation and restful sleep.