Morning light

5 sleep habits to focus on for better sleep

Better sleep does not require changing everything at once. Long lists of sleep advice can make bedtime feel like another task to manage. A simpler approach is to focus on five practical actions that cover the most important parts of your daily sleep habits. These include keeping your schedule steady, getting light and movement, protecting …

Person reading quietly in a softly lit room

How to build a relaxing bedtime routine that actually works

You can be exhausted at the end of the day and still have trouble settling down when you get into bed. That can be frustrating, especially when you feel as though you should be able to fall asleep simply because you are tired. A relaxing bedtime routine gives you a transition between the demands of …

Woman using phone before going to sleep

Why sleeping with your phone can make bedtime harder

Your phone may be the last thing you look at before bed and the first thing you reach for in the morning. Keeping it nearby can feel convenient, but what happens around bedtime may make it harder to settle down. The issue is not simply that a phone is in the room. Light exposure, notifications, …

Person sleeping late on weekend morning

Why you sleep fine on weekends but struggle on weeknights

You can sleep surprisingly well on Friday and Saturday nights, then find yourself staring at the ceiling on Sunday. Maybe you wake easily without an alarm on the weekend but feel exhausted when Monday arrives. That contrast can make it seem as though something is wrong with your sleep during the week. Often, the bigger …

Person waking tired despite spending enough time asleep.

Why you wake up tired after getting enough sleep

You went to bed at a reasonable time, got the eight hours you were aiming for, and still woke up feeling like you barely rested. Maybe you need several cups of coffee just to get moving, or you feel tired again before the morning is over. It can be frustrating when you are doing everything …

Kiwi

Can what you eat during the day affect your sleep at night?

You may think of sleep as something that starts when you turn off the lights. But what you eat earlier in the day may be part of the picture, too. New research found that, among healthy young adults, days with more fruits and vegetables were associated with fewer disruptions in sleep that night. That does …

Fiber-rich foods and constipation

Why fiber may matter for better sleep?

Fiber is usually discussed in terms of digestion, but its role may extend further. Your gut bacteria use certain types of fiber as food, producing compounds that interact with other systems in the body. Some research has found a relationship between higher fiber intake and better reported sleep. Fiber is not a treatment for sleep …

Coffee cup beside a clock in afternoon light

How to tell if caffeine is affecting your sleep

That afternoon coffee may seem far removed from bedtime, yet it can still be worth asking whether caffeine is changing the way you sleep. The tricky part is that caffeine does not always make you feel obviously alert at night. You may fall asleep normally and still notice that your sleep feels different. Looking at …

Magnesium-rich foods

Can magnesium-rich foods help support better sleep?

Magnesium is a mineral your body needs for many everyday functions, including muscle and nerve function. Because sleep is closely connected with the nervous system, magnesium has also attracted attention in sleep research. That does not mean eating more magnesium automatically leads to better sleep. Research suggests that magnesium intake may be associated with sleep …

Skip Snacking Before Bed

What should you eat if you’re hungry before bed?

Getting hungry before bed can put you in an awkward spot. You want to sleep, but going to bed hungry can be just as uncomfortable as eating a heavy meal too late. The good news is that you do not necessarily have to choose between hunger and sleep. If you genuinely need a snack, the …