Welcome to Life Noggin!

Getting enough sleep is important for your health.

Aside from being tired, without a sufficient amount of sleep, your risk of illnesses like

depression, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer can increase.

So in order to have a good night's rest, what should you avoid before bed?

James: AHHHH!!!

Blocko: Oh, Hey James.

James: Don't hey James me!

Life Nugget!

I was just sleeping at my desk and a giant portal brought me here!

Blocko: Well, um, i need your help talking about Things You Shouldn't Do Right Before

Bed?

James: Yeah, Number one: Don't get sucked up into a giant portal!

Blocko: Sorry about that.

Um, it's just, You weren't answering your phone!

James: Yeah you nerdy lego man, because i was sleeping!

I don't have my phone on me before I go to bed.

Blocko: Hmm, well why is that James?

James: Well, looking at electronic screens before bed can make it harder for you to fall

asleep

For instance, most visible light can reset the human circadian rhythm, blue light is

especially effective at this because it is better at suppressing melatonin - a hormone

that tells your body when it's time to sleep.

James: Hey!

Wait, did you just trick me into being in this video?

Blocko: Oh Please keep going!

You were crushing it!

You know so much about sleep!

James: Well I am very good at sleeping.

Blocko: James?...You okay, buddy?

James: Research also shows that blue light is better at elevating heart rate, reducing

sleepiness, and enhancing attention and alertness.

In addition to screens, you should also avoid any activity that's mentally stimulating

or stressful., You know how they say don't go to bed angry?

Well fighting before bed elevates your stress hormones and can make it more difficult to

fall asleep.

Blocko:

Hey we did a whole video on that!

You should also avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes before bed, as alcohol

has been found to cause sleep disruptions throughout the night,, We also did a video

on that!

Oh and cigarettes - which are terrible for a multitude of reasons - contain the stimulant

nicotine, which increases the time it takes to fall asleep and reduces the total sleep

time.,

In addition to avoiding drinks like beer or coffee before bed, you may also want to steer

clear of fatty foods.

Foods high in fat have been found to lower sleep efficiency and REM sleep, while increasing

slow wave sleep.

James: But there are some foods that may actually help you fall asleep, though there is limited

clinical evidence from primarily small studies., One of those foods is milk, which contains

nutrients with potentially sleep-promoting properties.

Others are any foods containing tryptophan or group B vitamins, both of which help your

body produce serotonin, which creates feelings of calmness and drowsiness.

There have also been several breathing exercises suggested to help you fall asleep.,, The theory

behind them is that they help you concentrate while reducing stress and anxiety - common

causes of insomnia.

BLOCKO: While there have been few studies on their

effects, a 2011 literature review study concluded that diaphragmatic or deep breathing is an

effective treatment for reducing stress and anxiety.

Other effective treatments they found include progressive muscle relaxation and transcendental

meditation.

So once your done watching this, put down your phone, and take some deep breaths.

You should be asleep in no time!

James: Or stay up and watch more videos while you overthink every moment of your life!

Blocko: No, James that's- that's not good advice.

James: I didn't say it was, but that's probably what they're gonna do, Life Nugget!

Blocko: Hey, are we friends?

I can't tell.

This is a weird relationship.

[James Snoring]

Sooubway Sandwiches

Wear Your Seatbelt

So how long does it take before you go to sleep?

Are you someone who stays on your phone a lot, or can go to sleep immediately.

Lemme know in the comment section below, or tell me, what should James and I talk about

next?

I have a lot more portals I can send his way.

Thank you so much to James from TheOdd1sOut for being in this video.

He makes really funny videos, and the poor guy only has like 12 million subscribers.

James: What a nice story we got their.

I'm- I'm just gonna set it down and watch it from time to time and not change it one

bit, but then a sequal comes along and says "oh you thought the characters were gonna

live happily ever after?"

As always my name is blocko, this has been life noggin, don't forget to keep on thinking!