Three Tips For A Better Night's Sleep
Hi guys! Anyone that knows me knows that mornings are not my favorite. I can stay up later, or go to bed early, but I'll still have a hard time waking up in the morning. In fact, I shot the photos for this post at approximately 4 o'clock in the afternoon, after I'd had plenty of time to wake up.
Lately I've been working hard to make sure I get good sleep at night in an attempt to make mornings easier. It might not turn me into a morning person, but doing a few things to help me sleep better and more deeply have made a world of difference in my mindset when that alarm goes off.
Three Tips for a Better Night's Sleep
1.Make a list of your goals for the day the night before
In the past, one of the things that kept me from falling asleep quickly was when my brain would start planning all the things I needed to do the next day, and giving myself anxiety that I'd forget something.
2. Exercise During the Day
Moving during the day can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep! Just don't do it super close to your bedtime (which can make you feel more energized!)
3. Make your bedroom a tranquil place
Bedroom essentials for better sleep:
- Soothing paint colors - look for calming, cool-tone shades like blues, greys, greens, or purples.
- Ceiling fan - keeps you cool, and makes white noise.. both of which are great for sleep
- Re-organize your space to keep non-soothing activities (like working, watching TV, or exercise equipment) out of your sleep space!
- This one is hard for me, because I love having the TV on to fall asleep, so usually, I stay in the living room until I'm really tired, and then will go in my room just before I fall asleep on the couch
Bonus Tips!
1. Download an App!
There are lots of really neat apps that will track your sleep at night, and tell you the quality of your sleep. I'm currently using a free one, Pillow, that I've really liked so far! It also has a "sleep analysis alarm clock" that looks at when you've naturally moved into light sleep, within 30 minutes of when your alarm is supposed to go off, and will wake you up at the best time to keep you from feeling groggy! This particular app has a "pro" feature, that I may break down and pay for, where it will record noises you make while you sleep. So, if you've ever wondered if you talk in your sleep, or snore, this could be a great way to find out!
2. Drink Sleepy-time Tea
With chamomile, lemongrass, spearmint, and orange blossom, this tea is great for winding down in the evening!
3. Take Melatonin
Melatonin can be helpful occasionally if you're having trouble sleeping, but I definitely wouldn't take it every night. I take it when I know that I need to break a pattern of trouble sleeping, or when I've been waking up repeatedly throughout the night. For more on melatonin usage, research, and data, check out this article from the National Sleep Foundation
4. Aromatherapy
Last Christmas I got an oil diffuser, and it has been so great! I like to use calming scents about an hour before I head to bed. Lavender, Chamomile, Bergamot, Cedar wood and Sandalwood are the bests!