Struggling to Sleep: Is there Too Much Light in Your Bedroom?

Getting a good night's rest is an important part of creating a healthy lifestyle. If you're not getting enough sleep, it can cause your health to spiral out of control.

Some nights you may be able to go straight to bed at a reasonable hour, but on other nights, the clock ticks away and you're still wide awake, or you're constantly up and down throughout the night. You've gone over your bedtime routine in your head but you can't quite figure out what's keeping you awake.

Did you ever consider that there's too much light in your bedroom?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, one of the key factors in regulating sleep and your biological cycles is the amount of exposure to light or darkness while falling asleep.

The exposure to light can stimulate a pathway from your eyes to your brain that controls body temperature and hormones. These factors determine whether you stay awake or feel sleepy.

Falling asleep with the TV on, watching Netflix in bed, answering those late-night emails on your Smartphone, having a bright alarm clock right next to your bed, or having a bright light on while reading can all trigger your brain to stay awake and cause you to feel less tired than you were an hour ago.

What are some tips to help reduce the light that surrounds you?

Making sure you're away from all technology at least an hour before bed can help you sleep better at night. I know, this sounds extremely difficult; but it will help your body adjust to dark and signal your internal clock that it's time for bed. However, if you just can't detach from your technology, turning down the brightness on your phone and computer can also help your eyes and mind to get ready for bed.

Sarah Corey, AADP explains the importance of a good night's sleep, why light could be the reason your sleep is disrupted, and ways you can reduce light exposure in your bedroom.