There are certain things that us humans need in order to function properly, and sleep is one of them. Sleep affects our mental and physical health in a variety of very real ways! (Learn more about how sleep affects your health by checking out my blog post at the link below.)
Related: 14 Surprising Health Benefits Of A Good Night’s Sleep
But if you want to perform at your best, not just any sleep will do! Truly good sleep needs to meet two requirements: it has to last a certain amount of time, and it needs to be of a sufficiently high quality. But unfortunately, there are about a thousand factors that can make both of those requirements hard to reach!
In order to make it easier, today I’ll be offering up 7 helpful tips for getting better sleep. Whether you have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to sleep, or you just need a bit of a tune-up, these tips will help you get back on track!
Related: This Is The Only Thing That Helps Me Sleep Without Feeling Groggy
7 Tips For Getting Better Sleep
1. Start Keeping Track
You can’t improve your spending habits if you don’t know where your money is going, and you can’t improve your sleep habits if you don’t know when or how long you’re sleeping! So in order to get better sleep, keeping track of your sleep patterns is a great place to start.
For gadget lovers, there are several wearable gadgets on the market that will track your sleep for you. Several Fitbit models have built-in sleep trackers, as does the Apple Watch.
And for those who prefer the pen-and-paper approach, I put together a simple printable Sleep Tracker just for you! 🙂 If you use it regularly, a sleep diary can help you identify sleep patterns while serving as a nice reminder to try to go to bed at the same time every night. Use the button in the box below to download your free copy.
2. Fall Asleep Faster
Some people have no trouble staying asleep—it’s falling asleep that they struggle with. If that sounds like you, there are plenty of simple things you can do before bedtime to unwind, relax, and fall asleep faster. Get 9 helpful tips for falling asleep faster at the link below.
Related: 9 Things That Will Actually Help You Fall Asleep Faster
3. Wear Something Comfy
Many factors can affect the quality of your sleep, including what you wear to bed! I’ve always been a sweats and t-shirt kind of gal, but I recently invested in my first nice pair of pajamas. I can’t believe how comfortable they are, and I know I’ve been getting better sleep because of them!
On the other hand, there’s also some evidence to suggest that sleeping naked can improve your quality of sleep. So I guess the takeaway is that it doesn’t matter exactly what you wear to bed, as long as you feel as comfortable as possible! 🙂
4. Get More Exercise
According to a 2018 review, getting more exercise during the day can improve your quality of sleep, even in those with insomnia. So if you haven’t been sleeping well, try fitting some more exercise into your routine!
(Keep in mind that exercising close to bedtime can make it hard for some people to fall asleep, so try to schedule your exercise early if possible.)
5. Lights Out
The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with your body’s natural production of melatonin and lead to poor sleep. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, avoid using your phone or tablet right before bed.
And it’s not just blue light that can keep you awake! If those LED indicator lights on your bedroom electronics are keeping you awake, check out the post below. It’s packed with ideas for covering up LEDs so they aren’t as bothersome!
Related: How To Block Those Bright LEDs So You Can Actually Sleep
6. Limit Caffeine
Caffeine can linger in your system for hours after you finished your drink and interfere with your sleep! Try to limit your caffeine consumption to the morning hours and early afternoon hours. Shoot for 2:00 pm as a good stopping point.
7. Take A Nap
If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, you’re running a sleep deficit. Taking a nap is actually a pretty good option for earning back some of that sleep! So if you feel like you need a nap, go ahead and take one! (As long as it’s still early enough in the day, or you run the risk of making it hard to fall asleep later.)
Related: Need A Nap? Here Are 5 Good Reasons To Go For It
How do you make sure you’re getting enough good sleep?
