Getting a good night’s sleep is perhaps one of the most important ways to maintain your health and keep you energized and rejuvenated for whatever lies ahead in your day. However, getting the recommended eight hours of sleep is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you are bombarded with things to do in your daily life. After a long and stressful day, the only thing on your mind may be to jump into bed, feeling drained and exhausted.
Giving yourself time to destress and relax before you go to bed can significantly impact your sleep. Whether it be to pop on some silk sleepwear, make a cup of tea, or read a book, these small things can give you a sense of calm. You can think of the time before sleep as your personal “quiet time” where you can do pretty much anything to unwind.
Been struggling to get that good night’s sleep for a while now? Try out a few of these activities and see which ones help you get better rest at night. Turn it into a daily night routine or ritual to look forward to at the end of each day!
Wear Comfortable Sleepwear
The first thing you can do is make yourself feel comfortable. If you have had a long day, start by taking a quick warm bath for relaxation, then put on some comfy pajamas to keep you feeling cozy. Grab a set – or a couple of sets – of silk sleepwear, which can make a difference in your sleep due to its cooling feeling and lightweight material.
Turn Off Gadgets
In today’s technologically-advanced age, you may find yourself holding on to your phone or working in front of a computer screen all the time. With most of your day spent using these devices, it is highly recommended that you switch off your devices during your quiet time before bed.
Though it may seem like the time before sleeping is the perfect time to browse your phone or watch your favorite movie, using devices can stimulate your brain and keep you awake, causing your sleep to be disrupted. Before you know it, you may have already cut down your sleeping time by hours by being engrossed with your device.
Read or Listen
If you love reading books but have not had the time to catch up on your to-be-read list due to your busy schedule, you can sneak in as little as 10 minutes before bed to unwind. Studies show that reading is perhaps one of the easiest ways to fall asleep, so it is perfect for insomniacs. To add to that, reading can help calm your mind and reduce stress levels, allowing you to have a good sleep.
Alternatively, if you are not too much of a book person, you can opt to listen to music. While you may spend part of your day listening to music, you most likely do this while also working on other things. Instead of multitasking, spend some time before sleeping to listen to music and do nothing else. Find a relaxing playlist that you enjoy and allow yourself to listen without distractions and without worries.
The next time you find yourself up awake and struggling to fall asleep, try any of the three – or four – of the activities mentioned above. Even though the only thing on your mind may be to lie down after a long day, try to give yourself time to get into a calm state before falling asleep. It may seem like the extra time spent at first, but going to sleep with a relaxed mindset can do wonders for the quality of your sleep!
