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Any doctor, friend, or stranger standing on the street will tell you the importance of getting a full night’s rest.
Not only is getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night going to make you feel better the next day, but sleep has actually been proven to help people live longer. And who doesn’t want to live longer?!
However, it can be difficult to get a full eight hours of solid sleep, especially since we’re all busy with work, our families, and let’s be honest, Netflix.
If you’re someone who struggles with getting to bed at a reasonable time, or you just don’t feel like you’re getting enough sleep throughout the week, here are some easy tips and tricks that may help you on your sleep journey.
This may seem obvious to some, but turn off your TV and put your phone away at least 30 minutes before your desired bedtime.
Electronics stimulate the brain, so if you’re wanting to fall asleep it’s not necessarily the best thing to do before trying to sleep.
Instead of playing on your phone or watching Netflix, read for 30 minutes before going to bed or listen to calming music. This will help your brain to relax and prepare for sleep.
It’s important to get in some form of exercise almost every day for your overall health, but it will also help you to fall asleep. Exercise wears out the body, which in turn will make you tired earlier in the night.
However, make sure to not exercise too close to your desired bedtime, as exercise often gives people a boost of energy for the first couple of hours post-workout.
If you try to go to bed and can’t seem to fall asleep, do not just lay there and wait. Instead, get out of bed and read, do a crossword puzzle, listen to music, anything to calm you and get your mind off the fact you weren’t able to fall asleep.
Do this new activity for around 30 minutes, or until you feel tired again, and then try getting back into bed.
If you’re having a tough time getting to bed at a reasonable hour, check your caffeine consumption. Though you may not think caffeine really affects you, it may be the reason you’re not able to sleep.
Stop having caffeine all together by about 4:00 p.m. and see if this helps you feel tired earlier in the evening.
