Caffeine and alcohol are two things many of us enjoy without little thought, but did you know that consuming either or, or the two together, may be impacting our sleeping habits? That’s right, despite the enjoyment of consuming alcohol and caffeine, it may not be doing your sleeping schedule any favours, making you feel worse instead of better the next day. Whilst other factors play a role in how good your sleep is, such as the best pillow side for sleeping, you can control your alcohol and caffeine intake for a better night’s sleep. We’re taking a closer look at its effects and how, below.
Disrupted Sleep
Combining caffeine and alcohol is never a good idea, no matter how good it may seem at the time. The two together may result in an extended period of disrupted sleep whereby you may find it more difficult to fall asleep or wake up in the night, enhancing your tiredness rather than reverting it. Instead, limit your intake of the two. By doing so, you’ll be able to maintain good sleeping habits, ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed instead of hungover.
Limited Sleep
If you regularly drink caffeine and alcohol you may also experience more sleep disorders compared to if you limited your intake. Insomnia is just one of many sleep disorders that is common amongst individuals who take less care of what they consume in the hours leading up to bedtime. As a result, you may experience more difficulty falling asleep at night, which may leave you lying awake for hours. Taking control of your intake will help, encouraging your body to enter a balanced state before bedtime.
Poor Sleeping Patterns
Another effect of caffeine and alcohol is the ability to stick to a good sleep routine. Depending on your intake, you may find it difficult to fall asleep one day but have no problems the next. This puts a bigger strain on your body, making it harder to stick to a routine which is ultimately the element that helps you maintain good sleeping habits and wake up feeling refreshed. Limiting your intake of both caffeine and alcohol will help as well as exercising and healthy eating.
Dehydration
Caffeine and alcohol are both known to dehydrate the body, promoting feelings of tiredness. You may also experience dry lips as a result. When driving caffeine and alcohol, you want to make sure you maintain a high water intake to revert the effects of the two, reducing fatigue and other symptoms such as cramp. If your dehydration is ongoing or has been declared as chronic, you may also find it difficult to stay asleep for long periods of time, causing you to wake up at random times.
Stimulants
Coffee in particular is a stimulant and whilst the initial impact of alcohol is also considered to be stimulating it’s actually a depressant however the two can have very similar effects on different individuals. With that in mind, it’s important to consider how late you consume these products, with experts suggesting avoiding caffeine between 4-6 hours before bedtime to prepare the body. As a result, you’re likely to have a better night’s sleep.