How To Adjust Your Sleep Routine During The Summer Months (NBC Better)

Your diet, the temperature and a busy social calendar may be to blame for that afternoon slump.

by Kelsey Butler / Jul.18.2018

Sleep is pretty much my favorite pastime. Over the years, even as other hobbies have come and gone — crocheting, piano playing and terrarium-making among them — snoozing has always been my preferred way to spend downtime.

And despite insomnia running in my family, I’ve always been blessed enough to be able to sleep when I want to, including during bad movies (sorry “Batman v Superman”), airport layovers and morning train rides to work. I’ve always been lucky when it comes to sleep … until recently. As I’ve gotten older, and particularly during the warmer months of the year, I find it harder and harder to get to sleep and get the rest I need. What gives?

“Longer days certainly make it hard to get to bed on time,” says psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Alex Dimitriu. “With a sunset time of 8 [p.m.], it’s easy to be outside later (enjoying the cooler evening), then come home and start the ‘regular’ evening routine. But now everything may be happening two to three hours later than in the winter months, so it’s easy to get to bed too late.”

Click HERE for the full article on NBC Better.