Sleep is one of the most important foundations to good health and wellbeing. Even if you exercise regularly and eat a nutritious diet, neglecting your sleep will reduce the effectiveness of your other healthy lifestyle choices. These are just a few quick tips for how you can improve your sleep and, as a result, your overall health.
Create a Relaxing Environment
Trying to get to sleep in a space that isn’t conducive to it will set you up for failure. Bright light, loud noises, and uncomfortable bedding will make falling asleep more challenging than it should be. Choose multiple small sources of warm light for your bedroom and block out noise as best as you can with window coverings or wall panels. Find a mattress and bedding that suits your particular preferences for the ultimate comfort.
Identify the Causes of Your Stress
One of the main reasons people struggle to enjoy quality sleep is that they are too stressed to let their minds switch off at the end of the day. The first step to dealing with your stress is to identify what causes it. This might not be enough to solve your problems, but knowing what they are can be helpful when working towards a long-term solution. Once you are on the path to overcoming your stress, you will notice an improvement in your sleep quality.
Soothe Your Body
While it is sometimes the mind that makes it difficult to fall asleep, other times, it can be the body. Physical aches, pains, and tensions can disturb your sleep and prevent you from truly switching off. Find a way to relieve tension in your body that works for you. Some people take CBD gummies for pain or regular full-body massages to release muscle tension. Finding a method that suits your lifestyle can take a while, so try various approaches. Sooner or later, you will find one that alleviates your physical unease and allows you to rest.
Give Yourself Time
Another common reason people struggle with sleep is that they put too much pressure on themselves at bedtime. This is especially true for people who are required to wake up at a specific time each day. The pressure to fall asleep by a certain time can make unwinding almost impossible. Take the pressure off by noticing when you aren’t ready to sleep and finding a calm activity to do instead, such as reading or listening to music. Trying to force yourself to sleep won’t work. Give yourself enough time in the evenings to properly wind down from the day and enough time in the mornings to wake up feeling refreshed.
Use Weekends to Reset
If all else fails, then you can use a weekend to reset your sleeping pattern. A lie-in can lead to a late night which creates a vicious cycle. To break it, avoid napping during the day so that you are tired enough the following bedtime to fall asleep naturally.
