Getting a great night of sleep has a dramatic effect on your life. You know that! After a good night’s sleep, you wake up feeling refreshed, in a good mood, and ready to seize the day.
Conversely, if you have a bad night of sleep, you wake up groggy and in a really terrible mood. Blah! So, wondering how to get better sleep?
Yes please!
There might be a few things you are doing wrong if you are having trouble getting consistent good nights of sleep. Break these bad habits and you will be on your way to better sleep and leading a more energetic and happy life.
Tell me more!
Okay Okay, below are 5 things you may be doing that are preventing you from getting better sleep.
Nix these bad habits tonight and you’ll be on your to a fabulous night of sleep.
How To Get Better Sleep
1. Keep Your Sleep Schedule The Same
Studies show that your ability to sleep well is negatively impacted if you change your sleep schedule frequently. If possible, try to go to bed and wake up around the same time.
Your body will get used to your schedule and you will be able to get to sleep much more easily. You won’t face those tired lags during the day, either.
2. Decrease Stress
Too much stress can really hurt your ability to sleep and knowing how to get better sleep may contribute to lowering your stress levels. Stress can throw off your sleep schedule on any given night and make it hard for you to sleep well in the upcoming days.
Take measured steps to reduce stress. Simply going for a 15 minute walk each day can greatly reduce stress. If you notice yourself getting too stressed, watch a funny movie, call up one of your best friends, go to Yoga or do some other activity that will distract your mind from stress.
Taking stress away will dramatically help you sleep better.
3. Create A Pre-bed Routine To Relax Your Mind
You can really help yourself sleep better if you can get into a routine that relaxes your mind 15 to 30 minutes before you go to sleep. Read a book (avoid the bright glare of a phone or tablet though), listen casually to the radio, or do any other activity that doesn’t stimulate your mind too much.
This will prep your brain for sleep and make the transition from awake to asleep much more smooth.
4. Don’t Do So Much In Bed
If you read, go on your computer, or watch tv in bed, you aren’t doing yourself any favors! You may fall asleep while doing these activities, but you will always wake up at some point. Your body will be conditioned to wake up in your bed and you will have difficulties staying asleep.
It’s better to condition your body to think of the bed as the place where you sleep only. Your body will then be trained to relax every time you hop into bed and you will get to sleep and stay asleep much more easily!
5. Decrease Lights Around Bedtime
The bright lights of your TV, iPhone, or tablet can stimulate your brain too much and prevent you from sleeping. Make sure that you give yourself at least 30-45 minutes of time for your brain to decompress after doing one of these activities before you try to go to bed.
If you do watch tv or look at your tablet, make sure you do something else to relax your brain before you head to bed. It might be best to just not watch tv or look at your phone/tablet close to your bed time.
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Jimmy
Cool list. I like them all, except for #2…which is good info, but I’m not sure just saying “reduce stress” helps that much. If people could reduce stress by just telling them to a litany of problems would immediately vanish.
I might like to add eat a few foods that help you get better sleep. I read this article recently http://sleepopolis-mattress-reviews.com/blog/7-super-foods-that-help-you-sleep/
Certain foods help your mind and body relax, allowing you to get better sleep. I’ve been eating a banana before bed and it’s been greatly helping me.