Getting a good night's sleep is a vital part of our well being. It can effect everything from our mood, energy and stress levels to our memory, weight and skin. If you struggle to get a good night's sleep, it's important to establish some sleep-promoting techniques. What works for some may not work as well for others, so you may need to experiment with a few. Here are our top 5 tips to try for yourself:
1 - COMFORT: Your room should feel calm, cozy and relaxing. You should look forward to crawling into your bed every night. It's important to have a quality mattress that meets your needs, along with a duvet and sheets that you love sleeping in and a supportive, comfortable pillow. While we all have different needs, having enough room to stretch out combined with the essential components to your bed can help you get to sleep faster.
2 - CREATE THE RIGHT SETTING: When it's time for bed, most people tend to prefer a cold, dark room with no distractions. If you're struggling to fall asleep at night, it might be time to take your television out of the bedroom or stop bringing the laptop into bed with you. If light or noise are an issue, you may want to try an eye mask, ear plugs, soothing music, blackout curtains, and anything else you can think of that might eliminate distractions. Also, liquids aren't your friend.
3 - GET INTO A ROUTINE: Going to bed, and waking up at the same time every day helps keep your internal clock on a schedule. Your body will naturally know when it's time to go to sleep, and time to get up. Reading before bed is also an good activity to incorporate into your nightly routine.
4 - EXERCISE: The best kept sleep secret is that exercising a few times a week will give you a better, deeper sleep and let you go to sleep sooner. Avoid exercise within 3-4 hours of bed, however or you may end up not being able to fall asleep at all.
5 - MAKE A LIST: If your mind is what's keeping you up at night, make a list! Once you have it on paper, you know you won't forget anything the next day and you can finally relax and get some sleep.
Remember, an investment in your sleep is an investment in the quality of your life.