Improving your sleep routine
Published on: July 13, 2021 | Reading time: 🕐 1m
Dr. Marie-Helene Favreau, HALEO's Medical Director met with The Globe and Mail to discuss the changes in sleep routines as people's schedule have shifted in the past year, and tips on how to get back to the normal.
Abstract: "Maybe you’ve gotten used to rolling out of bed five minutes before your first Zoom call of the day, snuggling up on the couch for a midafternoon nap or engaging in some bedtime procrastination. Eventually, we’ll have to start setting an alarm clock again, and there are some ways to ease back into a regular circadian rhythm.
Dr. Marie-Hélène Favreau, medical director at Montreal’s sleep-focused clinic, says that getting a good night’s rest is all about maintaining healthy routines and habits during the day. She recommends avoiding caffeine after lunch and alcohol in the evenings, getting exercise early in the day and spending time outdoors. “Each and every one of these factors in isolation is important but when you combine them, this is when you’re actually getting a good night’s sleep,” she says, adding that your bedroom should be cool, dark and quiet.
If you’d like to start getting up earlier in the mornings, do so gradually, adjusting your alarm by 15-minute increments until you’ve reached your ideal wake-up time. Any drastic shifts and “it’s going to feel like jet lag,” says Favreau."