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 …

Woman eating late at night after poor sleep

What happens to your sleep when you eat late at night?

A late dinner or midnight snack may seem harmless, but eating close to bedtime can sometimes make sleep harder. Your body is preparing to rest while your digestive system is still active, and the timing and size of your meal may affect how comfortable you feel during the night. That does not mean you need …

Walking after dinner outdoors

Can evening exercise help you sleep better?

Evening exercise does not automatically have to interfere with sleep. For some people, a walk, gentle yoga, or another moderate activity can be a comfortable part of the evening. The bigger question is how intense the exercise is, when you finish, and how your body responds afterward. If evening is the only time you can …

Person exercising in the evening

Is exercising before bed really bad for your sleep?

You may have heard that exercising before bed is a bad idea. But evening workouts are not automatically harmful to sleep. For some people, light or moderate exercise can fit comfortably into the evening, while harder workouts close to bedtime may make it more difficult to wind down. The difference often comes down to timing, …

sleeping

How a partner can quietly disrupt your sleep

You may fall asleep easily and still wake up feeling tired because someone else is sharing the bed. A partner’s movement, noise, or different sleep habits can interrupt your sleep without either of you realizing how much it is affecting the night. Occasional awakenings are normal. The bigger issue is when small disruptions happen repeatedly …

Old man and woman

Should you exercise in the morning for better sleep?

Morning exercise can be a good choice for sleep, but it is not automatically the best option for everyone. Your body clock, workout intensity, and how close you exercise to bedtime can all influence how exercise fits into your sleep routine. The good news is that you do not need to find a perfect workout …

Cooler sleep bedding

How to choose bedding if you sleep hot

If you regularly wake up hot or sweaty, your bedding may be part of the problem. Your body naturally cools as you prepare for sleep, but bedding that traps heat or moisture can make it harder to stay comfortable through the night. You do not necessarily need an expensive cooling system. Start with the layers …

Person waking at a consistent time

The sleep schedule mistake that can throw off your body clock

Getting enough sleep is important, but the timing of that sleep matters too. Going to bed and waking up at very different times from one day to the next can make it harder for your body to maintain a predictable rhythm. This can be especially noticeable on weekends, when sleeping much later than usual may …

Morning daylight

How morning light affects your sleep and body clock

Your sleep does not begin when you turn off the lights at night. The light you receive earlier in the day also helps your body keep track of when it should feel awake and when it should prepare for sleep. Morning light is one of the signals that helps regulate your circadian rhythm, the internal …

afternoon sleepiness

Why afternoon sleepiness happens and when it may mean more

That familiar afternoon slump can arrive almost like clockwork. Your eyes feel heavy, your concentration starts to fade, and getting through the rest of the workday suddenly feels harder than it did a few hours earlier. For many people, some afternoon sleepiness is completely normal. Your circadian rhythm naturally includes a period of lower alertness …