Getting enough sleep is critical for physical and emotional well-being, but so many people fall short. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a whopping 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. (For reference: Adults should be aiming for at least seven hours.)
Of course, many factors go into a person’s ability to get sufficient rest, from work and family schedules to sleep hygiene.
With that in mind, here are five common mistakes a lot of people make in the morning that affect their ability to fall asleep — and stay asleep — later on:
1. You’re drinking too much caffeine
Obvious? Sure. But drinking too much caffeine in the morning can throw your entire sleep routine off track.
In general, most healthy adults can safely have up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. That’s the equivalent of roughly four cups of brewed coffee or two energy drinks, if that’s your thing. Remember, though: Caffeine levels in energy drinks can vary widely, and there are serious concerns about their potential impact on the body.
The effects from caffeine generally kick in within 15 minutes and peak about an hour later.
“Six hours after caffeine is consumed, half of it is still in your body,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. “It can take up to 10 hours to completely clear caffeine from your bloodstream.”
That means you can absolutely have a few cups of coffee in the morning and still be feeling them by dinnertime.
Also, keep in mind that some people are particularly sensitive to caffeine. So try cutting back for a bit to see how that affects your ability to get sufficient ZZZs.
2. You’re waking up at totally different times every day
Sleeping in when you can is glorious, yes. But it can also take a toll on your broader sleep patterns. Many sleep experts suggest that people set a standard wake time and stick with it to the best of their ability, even on the weekends.
Why? If you sleep for a few extra hours on a Sunday, for…