Don’t let the Astros keep you from good night’s sleep

In the midst of the Astros playing in the World Series, late nights watching the game are inevitable. A sleep expert at the Baylor College of Medicine said there are ways to feel more rested throughout the day, even if you are losing sleep to watch a major sporting event.

Dr. Ritwick Agrawal, assistant professor of sleep medicine at Baylor, offers tips on how to enjoy late-night sports and still get good sleep:

Limit caffeine and alcohol

Food and drinks are common while watching a game, but drinking too much alcohol or caffeine can result in poor quality of sleep and leave you feeling tired and groggy the next day.

“Alcohol can make you sleepy, but the quality of sleep is also very poor,” Agrawal said. “If you are drinking an energy drink or other highly caffeinated drinks then it will prevent you from falling asleep when it’s bedtime.”

Limit light exposure and screen time in the bedroom

Keeping your bedroom dark with blackout curtains or blinds will help you fall asleep faster, improve your sleep throughout the night and help you sleep a little later the next day, if you have that luxury.

Avoid other forms of light like phone screens and watching the game on the TV in the bedroom since that can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

“Light sensitivity has shown to impact our sleep,” Agrawal said. “A lot of people can’t fall asleep even if there is a little bit of light in the bedroom. If you don’t have dark blinds or curtains, try using temporary paper blinds or even a black trash bag to prevent any light from coming into the room if you are sensitive to light.”

Consider taking a short nap during the day

If you are feeling sluggish the next day, Agrawal said finding time to take a short nap will help you feel rejuvenated.  He does not recommend taking a nap for more than 30 minutes or too close to bedtime.

“Try to catch a nap somewhere, even if it’s short,” Agrawal said. “If you have that opportunity it can help refresh people who need to catch up on sleep.”

Make time for exercise

Finding time to exercise before the game or the next day has proven to improve quality of sleep and can help wake you up if you are feeling sleepy.

“Exercise tires the body and can play a positive role in improving your nighttime sleep, even if it’s for only 30 minutes,” Agrawal said. “I don’t recommend doing it too close to bedtime because it can also wake a person up but doing it in the evening when you return from work or in the morning helps.”

Catch up on sleep the next day or over the weekend

Aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep by sleeping in is an effective way to feel rested after a late night. If sleeping in is not possible, try catching up on sleep during the weekends or days when your favorite sports team is not playing a late game.

“Try catching up on sleep by going to bed earlier or waking up later,” Agrawal said. “However, this strategy only works for the short term. If someone needs to catch up on sleep on a more frequent basis then that needs to be addressed because long-term sleep deprivation is a serious problem. It increases the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s and has been associated with other significant health issues.”

Remember to return to your normal sleep schedule

Agrawal adds that these methods should only be used for a short amount of time, and that you should return to your normal sleep schedule when the World Series or any other major sporting event is over. He recommends keeping the same or within 10-15 minutes of the same bedtime and wakeup time throughout the week for the best quality of sleep and overall performance the next day.

“Try to minimize those days where you have to sleep late and are getting less sleep,” Agrawal said. “Our bodies love routine, so it’s really important to try going to bed at the same time during the weekday and the weekends.”