By Barb Sheldon, MA Atrium’s Head of Wellness

Sleep, that often-elusive recharge that we all so desperately need, is the greatest rest nutrient of them all. If sleep does not go well for you, consider looking into the myriad of ways you can improve sleep hygiene such as: black-out curtains, going to bed at the same time each night, mindfulness activities before bed, reducing exposure to blue light in the evening and avoiding stimulants. Here are a few more tips to help you get to dreamland.

1. Exposure to morning daylight-red light, which you see when the sun rises, helps set your circadian rhythm to an optimal level. This gets you in sync with your natural sleep-wake cycles and can deepen both your sleep periods and your focus periods. Try to expose yourself to daylight for at least five minutes in the morning. 
2. Caffeine can be used for focus, but needs to taper off as the day goes on. Avoiding caffeine after lunch until bedtime will help keep your sleep cycles in rhythm. 
3. Avoiding sugar, especially first thing in the morning. We have all seen the high and the low that happens after a child eats too much cake at a birthday party. Sugar is a powerful stimulant that leaves your system quickly and can cause blood sugar spikes and valleys. To help avoid this, always ensure you are mixing protein or good fat with carbohydrate intake. 

For more on this, Atrium offers a sleep workshop for your team members. Email wellness@atriumhr.com if you would like to get your team sleeping like babies!