We all know the feeling. You’ve just indulged in a world-class Thanksgiving meal and now feel the heaviness of your eyes and your brain going foggy. You fall asleep, only to wake up hours later questioning what day it is. While many people have simply accepted this as a Thanksgiving ritual, there is actually a much more scientific reason for this phenomenon: your food. Sounds simple, right? But what you may not know is that certain foods that induce a midday nap might come back to haunt you when you crawl into bed later that evening.

Sleep is intrinsically connected to the health of your mind and body. Poor sleep can be the result, or cause, of many physical and mental ailments. That’s why diet, physical exercise, and mental wellbeing are all important points of discussion when trying to improve sleep quality. Fortunately, there is a centuries-old practice that you can begin today, in your own home, to improve your sleep quality as well as mental and physical health: meditation.