Feeling happy is something everyone tries to attain, and there are ways to achieve this easily. Happiness is not always dependent on having everything you want, you can also achieve this feeling by being healthy and feeling good.
If you want to start every day with a smile, then the secret lies in getting a good night’s sleep. Feeling positive and hopeful in the morning starts the day right, and you are more likely to stay upbeat for the rest of the day.
People tend to rate their quality of sleep and their feelings of happiness similarly. This means when they report low quality of sleep, they feel less happy the next day. If they had a good night’s rest, then they reported feeling more positive. This is why one of the simplest ways to feel happy is to improve your sleeping habits.
There is a biological explanation for this. Sleep deprivation has been linked to reduced flow of blood into the brain, specifically parts that are responsible for alertness, attention, decision making, self-control, and most importantly, emotional responses.
Take simple steps to improve your sleeping habits and your mood along the way.
1. Put The Gadgets Aside Before Bedtime
After a long and stressful day, your body and mind need to relax and settle down. Unfortunately, it is easy to just whip up your phone or switch on the TV at this time and catch up on news, messages, or simply to watch some movies.
This is, however, not a good idea. Most people who watch TV before they go to bed are not getting a minimum of 7 hours of sleep. More than 20% are actually getting less than 5 hours.
The phone can also keep you occupied instead of sleepy. The blue light emitted by these devices will even suppress melatonin (the hormone responsible for sleep) levels in your body. The best thing to do is to avoid using gadgets before going to bed or if it cannot be avoided, turn down the blue light.
2. Create The Right Environment
You will want to ensure that you are getting top quality sleep, so keep your lights dim and your room free from distractions. At night, consider playing soothing sounds to help you relax.
Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable enough so you can get some good shut-eye. Lastly, check the temperatures of the room to avoid being wakened up by the heat/cold in your bedroom.
3. Keep A Routine
Having a nightly bedtime routine is not just good for kids, but it also can help you improve your sleeping patterns. For some, taking a shower before bed makes them feel at ease and relaxed after a long day.
Most importantly, though, is that a set bedtime routine sends signals to your brain that it is time to go to bed so that you fall asleep more easily.
Conclusion
Sleep is not just important for good health and well-being, it can also affect your mood. Aiming for good sleeping habits can increase your feelings of happiness every day.
