When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, there are few things that can better help you with your physical and mental health and well-being. If you are one of the many who struggle with sleep apnea — a sleep-related breathing disorder where you have trouble breathing while you sleep —- setting a goal to sleep better in the new year can make a world of difference!    

Over time, chronic sleep apnea disruptions diminish your sleep quality and leave you with serious health issues. This medical condition isn’t always diagnosed, especially for those who sleep alone. That’s because the most prominent symptom of sleep apnea is snoring, and if you don’t have a sleep partner, you may not know it’s even happening. Our team of specialists is here to help you manage your sleep apnea symptoms, like those nightly pauses in breathing.     

Signs You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)     

• Are you constantly fatigued during the daytime?  
• Do you wake yourself up with loud snoring, gasping or choking?  
• Do you have lingering morning headaches?  
• Is your mouth always dry when you wake up?  
• Are you typically restless while you sleep?  
• Do you have times of wakefulness throughout the night?  
• Do you constantly need to go to the bathroom during the night?  
• Are you continually irritated or frustrated during your day?  
• Do you have trouble staying focused? 

Setting New Year’s Sleep Resolutions    

The process of managing sleep apnea can be improved by making healthier sleep goals, and the coming new year is traditionally a time of goal setting. When it comes to your health, getting those elusive z’s will do more for your health, like helping you have a healthy body weight, the energy to exercise and even the stamina to give up a smoking habit, than just about anything else. Regular, good-quality sleep boosts your mental, emotional and physical health. With it, you’ll finally have the energy and drive to tackle any other goals on the horizon.     

Making the Most of Your Sleep Resolutions    

It’s no secret these days that improved sleep boosts self-control so you can do what you need to throughout your busy day, including succeeding at your goals, whether life is stressful or not. So how can you make the most of your New Year’s sleep resolutions?    

Set a resolution that you can actually stick with and accomplish as you successfully work your new routine into a lasting habit. This can be done using the SMART acronym.    

1. Specific: Make sure your goal is crystal clear. Instead of writing it down vaguely as “I will sleep better,” write “I will stop drinking caffeine after lunch so it doesn’t keep me awake at night.” 
2. Measurable: It’s important to be able to track your achievements easily, as seeing them met daily stimulates your desire to keep going. 
3. Achievable: Set realistic goals by breaking them down into little, manageable steps. This will motivate you to keep going instead of faltering because the giant step is just too daunting.   
4. Relevant: If your goal doesn’t really mean anything to you, you’ll find no purpose in sticking to it. Make sure the goal is something that matters to you. 
5. Time-Bound: Instead of outlining your goals vaguely, set a measurable timeline to achieve them so you feel like you are accountable. For example, setting a timeline for 90 days can allow you to see what is actually working. 

Be sure to zero in on what you can control so you can focus on the day-to-day process instead of the overall outcome. This helps reinforce your healthy routines to make your goals sustainable for a lifetime of better sleep quality. We wish you success on your journey to better sleep, and we are here to help you reach your sleep goals! Give us a call if you have questions or concerns about your sleep.