Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just about not being tired the next day. Studies have shown links between poor quality sleep and obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and numerous other health problems. Plus, so many functions are affected by our sleep health, including:
- Learning and memory consolidation
- Emotional regulation
- Problem solving
- Judgement and decision making
- Growth, healing and immunity
For all these reasons and more, it’s important to prioritize healthy sleeping. And with May being Better Sleep Month, it’s the perfect time to do just that. You can kill two birds with one stone by following these 3 tips for sleeping better while keeping your Texas electricity rates in check!
Enjoy natural light during the day
Our bodies have an internal 24-hour clock called a circadian rhythm. Light is a stimulus for our bodies that tells us when to do certain things, like sleep or wake up. Exposure to sunlight can help regulate your internal clock and make it stronger. It can also lessen the impact of artificial light on your circadian rhythm.
Internal clocks are most sensitive to light about one hour after waking up in the morning, about two hours before going to bed at night and throughout the night. Getting bright light, especially natural light, in the morning is great for our bodies and can help regulate sleep. It’s also an example of how to use less electricity easily.
Turn off all screens before bed
On the flip side, exposure to lights at night can keep you up when you’d rather be catching some Z’s. And that can throw your body’s internal clock off its natural schedule.
Blue light, which is emitted from modern electronic devices, is the worst offender. Its short-wavelength-enriched nature suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin more than any other wavelength. Exposure to blue light before bedtime tricks your body into thinking it’s still daytime and increases alertness.
Common blue-light emitting items include:
- Fluorescent lighting
- LED lights
- Smart phones, tablets and computer screens
- E-readers
- Televisions
To sleep better, it’s best to eliminate all sources of blue light in the hours before bedtime. This can also result in saving electricity. If this isn’t possible for your lifestyle, try the following to lessen exposure to blue light:
- Make your bedroom a screen-free zone
- Wear blue light-blocking glasses when you use the electronics listed above
- Dim the brightness on your device or enable “night mode” or “adaptive brightness” in the device’s settings
- Keep lights dimmer before bedtime
Control the temperature in your bedroom
Although everybody is different, experts recommend a temperature between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy sleep. However, older adults may benefit from sleep temperatures between 68-77 degrees.
Either way, the hot Texas summer nights can impact sleep negatively if you don’t have a method to cool down. Given today’s Texas electricity rates, using your air conditioner to get you all the way to your ideal temperature every night can get expensive. Instead, try these tips for saving electricity and cooling down at bedtime:
- Take a hot bath or shower before bedtime
- Use a fan to create a wind-chill affect that makes you feel cooler
- Keep bedroom curtains or blinds closed during the day to prevent heat buildup
- Use breathable bed linens and pajamas made from all-natural or organic materials
Keep Texas electricity rates in check by shopping for electricity
Now that you know how to get a better night’s sleep while also saving electricity, you can compare Texas electricity rates to avoid summertime spikes. Turn to Everything Energy for easy-to-use tools and find the best plan for your lifestyle.