GeekOverGears.com | All Things Automotive

6 common mistakes that may affect sleep quality

Sleep is an integral part of one’s health. Yet, between 50 and 70 million people suffer from sleep or wakefulness disorders, and more than a third of the population reported getting less than 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, the recommended amount of sleep for healthy adults. Sleep is often overlooked for work, leisure, travel, or other factors. Fortunately, there are ways to improve sleep quality by avoiding these six common sleep mistakes:

Not having a consistent bedtime
While some people are comfortable with changing sleep schedules daily, most people find adjusting difficult. Setting a consistent bedtime routine can help the body’s internal body clock build a strong sleep-wake cycle, contributing to improved sleep quality as well.

Failing to set a bedtime/unwinding routine
When assessing sleep physiologically, researchers report a slowing down of brain wave activity, heart rate, breathing, body temperature, and more. Setting an unwinding routine can help reach this stage. To achieve this, you can engage in reading, listen to relaxing music, take a warm shower, or do light stretching. It is also advisable to avoid vigorous exercise just before bed and have a 2-hour gap between your last meal and bedtime.

Having a poor sleep environment
While sleeping, the environment needs to be conducive to sleep. This includes having a dark, quiet, comfortable, and safe bedroom that maintains one’s ideal sleeping temperature. Based on your preferences, having the right pillows, quilts, and mattresses can also greatly impact sleep quality. Make sure all electronic devices are put away, such as phones, tablets, laptops, or TVs, or leave them outside the bedroom, to avoid any distractions.

Taking too many naps
Long daytime naps can interfere with long-term sleep quality. If you are keen on napping during the day, it is advisable to keep them short (under 20 minutes). Naps that last longer than an hour can make you feel groggy, impacting your mood significantly.

Excessive caffeine intake throughout the day
Around 85 percent of citizens have at least one caffeinated beverage per day. While one or two cups of coffee in the morning may not severely affect your sleep, intake of excessive caffeine too close to bedtime can affect sleep quality. Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increases adrenaline production. Having caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, soda, or energy drinks in the late afternoon or evening can negatively impact sleep quality, as it takes about 6 hours for the body to eliminate all the caffeine. Try to limit your caffeine intake to mornings only.

Worrying about sleep too much
Sleep is a voluntary phenomenon. While avoiding certain habits can improve sleep quality, fretting about it tends to have an adverse effect. Take small steps every day to improve your sleep habits, and find a balance that works best for you.

Popular Reads

4 Small Pickup Trucks to Choose From

Small pickup trucks were once primarily used for hauling farming or construction equipment. Today, these vehicles also offer massive cargo space, extravagant passenger features, and rugged capabilities. And if you’re looking for such a vehicle, the number of options and price ranges can overwhelm you. To help filter your requirements is the first step to take. To shortlist your choices, here are our top four pickup trucks that truly give you bang for the buck. 2013 Toyota Tacoma The 2013 Toyota Tacoma is still a very popular truck for the regular pickup driver. It comes in different trim variants and is loaded with a variety of features. Moreover, it gives you an impressive cargo capacity for its size, making it one of the best pickup trucks. Depending on your needs you can either choose a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that gives 159 hp or go for a higher 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 236 hp. It’s available in both five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic transmission. You can even opt for a four-wheel-drive in case you offroad a lot. 2016 Chevrolet Colorado The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado is a comfortable ride with spacious and exquisite interiors. It is a compact truck that can be easily driven in the city while offering the capabilities of a full-size truck.

5 affordable crossover SUVs you can buy without thinking twice

Crossover SUVs offer tons of versatility in functionality at practically very affordable prices. Suitable for cargo as well as passenger transportation, crossover SUVs provide the best of both worlds. In addition to being a perfect combination of a passenger car’s fuel economy and a small truck’s cargo capacity, crossover SUVs prices are more pocket-friendly. Crossover SUVs bring in the sturdiness of a pickup truck, spacious cargo hold of hatchbacks, and passenger comfort of a minivan or a wagon. No wonder crossover SUVs have quickly become popular. If you are planning to buy one, here are some popular ones at affordable crossover SUVs prices. Hyundai Kona: With prices starting from $20,100, the Hyundai Kona has one of the most affordable crossover SUVs prices. At a budget price, this crossover SUV is replete with outstanding and significantly good features. These include a stylishly quality cabin with a user-friendly infotainment system, good crash test ratings, and agile handling. At such an affordable price tag, this crossover SUV is a catch. Kia Sportage: The Kia Sportage can easily accommodate five passengers within its spacious cabin. With a price starting from $23,990, the Kia Sportage is a compact crossover SUV that gives decent performance powered by an efficient four-cylinder engine.

What to consider before buying a Chevy Silverado 1500

Chevrolet has been a household name in the automobile industry for over a hundred years now. The auto giant earned a reputation for manufacturing some of the best pickup trucks in recent years and the Silverado series is one stellar example. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is by far the strongest and technologically advanced pickup designed to get the job done, period! A bigger engine, better transmission, and stellar off-road capabilities rank the 1500 trims in a class of its own. Here are some of the key highlights of the pickup truck. Trims The Chevy Silverado 1500 is a true commercial workhorse that offers eight trim variants and three custom special editions. The heavier V8 engine trims can haul heavy loads for long distances, while the lighter Turbo trims offer the best fuel economy in its class. Towing and trailering also play an important role when it comes to choosing a trim variant. Engine and transmission The bigger the engine block, the more powerful is the pickup. You get multiple options for engines, including your standard V6 or V8 and the more fuel-efficient Duramax® Turbo-Diesel. The Silverado 1500 comes with a 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, or a 6.2L V8, all great engine blocks for the heavy trims.