It might be possible to look and feel at your best when you’re running off minimal sleep, but you’ll be making the task much more difficult than it needs to be. We all know that we’re in a better mood when we’re well-rested and we don’t have bags under our eyes! Alas, getting a full night’s sleep is something that more of us than ever before are struggling to have. The good news is that this isn’t an issue that you need to just accept. There are many things you can do that’ll help you to reach the land of nod more straightforwardly. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the key things you can do. You’ll be sleeping well before you know it!
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Create Your Personalized Sleep Schedule — and Stick to It
You should aim to get around seven hours of sleep each night. You don’t need more than eight hours, so if you’re planning to go to sleep at 9 pm and wake up at 8 am, then think again — you’ll struggle because you just don’t need that much. Everyone has their own sleep rhythm, and the key is to find the one that’s right for you. Once you’ve got your personalized sleep schedule, it’s best to stick to it whenever possible. Your body will fall into the rhythm of your sleep-wake cycle, which means fewer hours tossing and turning just waiting to fall asleep.
Invest in Your Bed
Some people are lucky — they can fall asleep anywhere, on any type of bed, in any condition. But if you’re like the majority, then you’ll need optimal conditions. It’s worthwhile investing in the quality of your bed because of how much it influences your ability to fall asleep — and plus, you’ll spend a third of your life (more or less) in your bed, so it’s a worthy investment! Invest in a good mattress and a couple of quality sheet sets, and you won’t only find it easier to fall asleep; you’ll actively look forward to getting into bed.
Create a Sleep-Friendly Room
Of course, it’s not just your bed that influences your ability to fall asleep. The room in which it is located has an impact, too. You could have the comfiest bed in the world, but if it’s placed in a room that is decidedly not sleep-friendly, then you’ll be making the task of falling asleep unnecessarily difficult. So what does a room that’s conducive to sleep look like? First and foremost, it’s peaceful. That means there are no light or sound disturbances. It should also be well-organized and simple — studies have shown that our minds are more active in cluttered spaces, which can make it difficult to really unwind and fall asleep.
Watch Your Intake
You might be impacting the quality of your sleep throughout the day without even realizing it. What you consume impacts many aspects of your well-being, including your weight, skin, energy levels, and, yep, how easily you find it to fall asleep. You’ll find it difficult to sleep through the night if you are stuffed with food or if you go to bed hungry. It’s best to have regular-sized meals at least a couple of hours before going to bed. Consuming a lot of alcohol can make it difficult to be truly restful, too, as can drinking caffeine products late in the afternoon (after 4 pm).
Exercise Throughout the Day
You’ll find it easier to fall asleep if you’re tired. If you’ve just been sitting down all day, then your body won’t really feel like it needs to rest — after all, you won’t have exerted that much energy! Regular exercise can bring a whole host of benefits that can positively influence your life, so look at finding a hobby that has you working up a sweat. Just be sure to avoid exercising right before bedtime, since exercise will make you feel more alert.
Unwind Before Bedtime
Finally, you can increase your chances of falling asleep — and staying asleep — by taking the time to truly unwind before you get into bed. You won’t feel relaxed if you’re, say, just scrolling through your phone right up until the moment that you want to fall asleep. In the hour leading up to bedtime, look at switching off your devices. You’ll feel much more sleep-ready if you spend that time meditating, writing, and reading. Add a relaxing night time tea into the mix, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a solid 7 – 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Candid Mama
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