7 Quick Tips For a Better Sleep Cycles
These 7 Quick Tips For a Better Sleep Cycles, will help you fall asleep faster and get better quality sleep every night!
Remember as a kid when you used all your energy to prove that you were not tired and did not need a nap? Thinking back to that time just seems like blasphemy as an adult. I daydream about being able to stop what I am doing, put down the list of 100 million things I need to get done and go take a nap. Heck, I would take lounging on the couch to watch Netflix for an hour!
Oh, how I wish this were true!
As an adult, sleep is something that seems to elude us all! Since the majority of us do not have the luxury of day napping, it is even more important that we make sure the sleep we do get at night is good quality! So here are 7 tips to help you get higher quality sleep cycles.
- Take time to relax. Every night, after I put the kids to bed, I go to my room and relax. For me, that means putting on my jammies and vegging for an hour or so. This quiet time alone has made such a difference for me. I work hard all day so that precious hour before bed is a quiet, relaxing one. I know some articles you read will tell you to turn off your phone or TV before bed but for me, that is how I unwind! So for me, that works, but it might not work for you.
- Make lists. Every morning I make one BIG list of everything that is on my brain. Then I take the time to process and prioritize my day with what needs to get done right away and what can wait. This keeps me from being weighed down at the end of the day because I have already tackled my worry list.
- Cut the caffeine. I used to be a Diet Coke addict. My day just didn’t seem complete without one. I will still occasionally enjoy one here and there, but for the most part, I avoid caffeine after lunch. This has also really helped me to wind down more easily at the end of the day.
- Exercise. This is a constant theme on Maybe I Will but, really people, exercise also helps one get a good night’s sleep! Just another perk on the long, winding list of reasons you should work out.
- Stick to a schedule. I know this can be easier said than done! But without fail, my body usually wakes up on its own at 5:00 a.m., even if I haven’t gone to bed at my planned time (life happens). Your body craves consistency and if you can keep your sleep schedule consistent, it will help!
6.Know your body! I think one of the biggest mistakes we make as adults is that we stop listening to our bodies! If your body is telling you that it’s tired, LISTEN! Pay attention to the signals you are receiving and make the changes necessary. Instead of staying up late writing blog posts and dinking around on the internet, I started listening to my body and realizing that it was ready for bed by 9:30. So I go to bed earlier and that change has made a big difference. So listen to your body and pay attention; it will tell you when you should set your bedtime.
7. Know when you need help! Sometimes my body needs extra sleep and is in pain. That’s when I reach for a sleep aid to help me get a good night’s sleep—the stuff is magical. On days when I have really taxed my body and it needs to recover, I will take a sleep aid and it will help me get to sleep and stay asleep, which helps my body heal and recover from all the crazy I threw at it! I prefer nature-based supplements like NOW Foods® Sleepzzz. It is all natural and works great without the groggy, “I got hit by a truck” feeling the next day.
8. BONUS TIP! To get a good night’s rest you need a good mattress. Pick one that will properly support you. I often sleep hot AND I also like a gazillion covers on me. Are you the same?? My Bed Jet keeps me nice and cool and I can still sleep with lots of covers on me! Sometimes I get so chilly and I will need to put socks on – in the middle of August. I honestly cannot live without it.
So there you have it, friends, 8 tips to help you rock your sleep cycle and get the best rest always!
What do you do to fall asleep at night? Are you a TV watcher, or do you adhere to the “no screens before bed” rule?
