Life always seems to be getting busier and busier. One of the best ways to take it in stride is to prepare your body and mind with a good, full night’s rest. Work can drag you into staying up late and waking up too early, or family can distract you and steal those precious moments of shut-eye. Mornings become a painful chore and bedtimes can be a long, arduous stretch of staring at the ceiling. It’s amazing how life changes once you have perfected the art of sleep for both you and your children. Here are a few helpful tips to start giving yourself a more fulfilling night of rest.
One: Set the Scene
Some conditions are better than others when it comes to setting up your sleeping space. In sunny situations, black-out blinds or curtains are great for keeping the light out when you’re trying to doze. When it’s cold, a thick, cozy blanket will keep the shivers from waking you up at night. One of the best things you can do for yourself when striving for the ideal sleep is to invest in a mattress that suits your body. The way you lie when you sleep can affect how much rest your body gets, so it’s important to find a comfortable and proper sleeping position. Everything from your bedside lamp to your thermostat can alter how you sleep. Make sure it’s dark, so your brain knows it is time to rest and try to achieve a comfortable temperature, not too hot and not too cold. All these factors will help to improve your night.
Two: Get Ready the Right Way
Falling asleep straight after drinking or eating can be difficult on your system. Caffeine, in particular, makes it tricky to switch your brain off and eating too close to bedtime will confuse your gut and result in more disturbed sleep. The worst culprit for preventing a quick transition from waking to resting is the use of your phone, tablet or computer. Blue light emitted from smartphones and computers has been proven to affect the speed with which people fall asleep. Avoid engaging with these kinds of devices before going to bed, so your brain has time to recover. Much like an overexcited child, your mind will be too stimulated to let itself rest. Switch your phone off overnight and resist having a television in your bedroom.
Three: Let Your Mind Do the Rest
If you feel like you’ve tried all these tips and still haven’t found a good solution, here is one that can work surprisingly well. The main reason people have trouble falling asleep is that their brain is too active and cannot slow down. Many people have taken to browsing the internet on their mobile devices to help them take their mind off the stresses of the day, but as mentioned before, the blue light and stimulation are counterproductive. Instead, find a book or audio story that will engage your imagination without demanding much from your body. Listening to music or ambient sounds will also lull your mind to rest. Close your eyes and set yourself the task of having an imaginary adventure. Before you know it, you’ll be dreaming.
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