4. Drink coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But java contains caffeine, a legal drug and stimulant that can affect our energy levels, heart rate, and feelings of wakefulness. This means that it can also temporarily prevent us from producing sleep-inducing chemicals, which makes it very difficult for our brains to shut down at the end of a long day.
This is why so many people love coffee in the morning – it helps us feel energized and ready to tackle the day’s activities. But it’s also why experts, like researchers at the National Sleep Foundation, recommend avoiding coffee close to bedtime.
5. Drink tea
It seems obvious that avoiding drinking coffee right before bed can help us sleep, but what about tea? Does it have the same impact on our sleep schedules? Many experts, like those at the London Sleep Center, say yes, tea can also keep people from getting a full night’s rest.
This is because most ‘real’ tea comes from the tea tree plant, known as camellia sinensis, which contains caffeine, the same drug found in coffee and which is known to increase heart rate and energy levels. Just like coffee, there are decaffeinated teas. But either way, they may contain traces of caffeine that can make it difficult to sleep. That’s why it’s important to find a tea that explicitly notes that it will help, rather than hinder, your attempt to sleep at night.
