'GMA' Quick Tip: How to Get a Better Night's Sleep
Follow these five steps from Matt Bean on getting a good night's sleep.
March 18, 2011 -- Matt Bean from "Men's Health" has five ways to get a perfect night's sleep:
First, create the perfect sleeping environment. That means banishing the television, computer and briefcase from the bedroom to create a place that actually encourages sleep.
Secondly, stay cool. A drop in body temperature is a necessary condition for sleep, so dial down that thermostat to between 65 and 72 degrees. Experts say that it's easiest to fall asleep when your core body temperature goes from very warm to very cold, very fast, so avoid late-night workouts. After a workout, your body needs four to six hours to finally cool down, so get that workout in early.
Thirdly, ditch that old duvet. Think about it, you spend half of your life in bed, shouldn't it be comfy? Investing in a good mattress, pillow and sheets is the key to ultimate comfort, and comfort is the key to a good night's sleep.
Fourthly, quit hitting that snooze button. Experts agree that the extra ten to 15 minutes of sleep isn't actually doing anyone any good. So when the alarm goes off, it's up and at 'em!
And last but not least, know how much sleep you need and swear by it. Almost every sleep physician recommends 7 to 8 hours of sleep for most adults, but everybody is different. If you're consistently feeling drowsy during the day, make it a goal to get a full serving of sleep.
Follow these bedtime rules, and you're sure to be in tip-top shape to face the day.