Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? And when you’re finally able to crash, do you have a hard time staying asleep until your alarm actually goes off in the morning? You’re in the right place.
Rest is so important for our minds and bodies to be able to fully recharge for the next day. Although some of these may seem obvious, and everybody is different, I am going to give you my top ten tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
1. Get yourself an eye mask.
I am someone who needs complete darkness when they’re trying to fall asleep & stay asleep, so purchasing an eye mask has really helped me get better rest and not wake up when the sun comes up in the morning!
2. Use a sound machine.
If you are like me and love some sort of white noise while falling asleep, definitely think about using a sound machine. There are even apps on your phone that come with hundreds of sounds to listen to while you’re trying to wind down. Or, if you don’t want any actual noise from a sound machine, even just turning on your fan can be relaxing.
3. Keep the temp cooler.
Personally, keeping the room cooler before I head to bed always helps me to get a much better night’s rest compared to when it’s warmer. Falling asleep being cuddled up with your blankets is a lot more comfortable than having to sleep with only a sheet because of the temperature.
4. Try to limit your screen time before bed.
You’ve heard it time and time again, but yes, limit your screen time before bed! Let your mind take a breather from the strain of your cell phone or the television. Pick up a book or do a little journaling before bed to fall asleep easier.
5. Turn on night mode on your phone and your laptop.
If you must use your phone or your laptop right before you crash, consider turning on night mode on both of your devices. This reduces the strain from the light on your electronics and can also save you from some headaches.
6. Limit your caffeine intake.
Of course, we all know it, but we don’t choose to accept it because we’re all addicted. If you are a coffee addict like me and the other 60% of the world, make sure you limit yourself in the morning on how much you consume, and maybe opt for decaf when the sun goes down.
7. Skip the chocolate before bed.
To go right along with limiting our caffeine intake, we also have to try to opt-out of the chocolate midnight snack before bed. Chocolate does contain a small amount of caffeine, and eating too much can keep you awake much longer than you’d like to be.
8. Sleep ASMR..Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
Okay, I know this may sound weird, but honestly sleep ASMR has helped me out a lot when I’ve had trouble falling asleep. There are an endless amount of videos on Youtube to watch when you need some calming triggers to slow down your mind.
9. Write out a list of everything you have to do the next day.
This is by far my favorite thing to do before I go to bed. Releasing all of the anxiety you have about the things you have to do and writing it out into a to-do-list (or in my case, an hour-by-hour schedule), for the next day can be so helpful in giving your brain a break and letting yourself relax right before you try to fall asleep.
10. Wind down with some meditation.
Now, this is the one thing that I have not really utilized that much, mainly because my brain has a hard time slowing down long enough for me to be able to fully indulge in meditation, but I have heard nothing but amazing things about following a guided meditation video before bed.
Sweet dreams!