Do you ever have a hard time sleeping through the night? These 4 easy and natural habits for better sleep have changed my sleep game completely! I can fall asleep anywhere at any time of day BUT I’ve always struggled to stay asleep. Getting up to go to the bathroom. Waking up when my husband comes to bed. Tossing and turning. Whatever the cause, not being able to sleep through the night can be SO frustrating! When we moved about a year ago I decided it was finally time for a change. I’m definitely not great at implementing all of these things every single night… But when I do, I see and feel a difference in my quality of sleep and my energy levels the next day!
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1. Stay away from screens starting 1 hour before bedtime.
Believe it or not, the blue light put off by our electronic devices actually acts like caffeine to our brains. Instead of scrolling Instagram as you fall asleep, think about what you could do to help your brain wind down with you. For me, this looks like taking a few minutes to tidy up the house before bed, taking a long shower, reading, journaling, etc. If you wouldn’t sip on a fresh cup of coffee just before bed, maybe think twice before scrolling yourself to sleep and see what a difference it can make! If you simply have to be on your phone or computer right up until bedtime, a pair of blue light blocking glasses can definitely help to ease some of the eye strain. I’ve had this pair for about a year and I love them!
2. Put down the water cup.
This may sound counter-intuitive because doesn’t it seem like we’re always being told that drinking more water will solve all our problems? As someone who drinks borderline too much water throughout the day (is there really such a thing??), I have a hard time putting down my 40oz. hydro flask before bed. But I have noticed that on the nights that I’m able to cut back my water intake after dinner, I’m wayyy less likely to get up in the night! Does anyone else’s bed always feel the coziest at 3am when you have to get up to pee? The worst. Just make sure you’re getting those ounces in throughout the day so you don’t wake up dehydrated!
3. Plan for the morning.
Even since I can remember, I’ve been laying my clothes out for the next day before going to bed. Back in the days that I was working in an office everyday, I literally could not get in bed before I had my entire outfit – socks, underwear, shoes, and accessories included- PHYSICALLY laid out for the morning. Some may call it obsessive, I prefer well-prepared (is my enneagram 1-ness showing?) I’ve now been working from home for over a year so it looks a little different these days. Whether you’re laying out workout clothes or setting up the coffee maker to brew when you wake up, taking those steps to make your morning run smoother is sure to give you some peace-of-mind as you fall asleep, and help you to wake up ready to face the day!
4. Essential oils!
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I was a total skeptic on this one. But there’s just something about the subtle scent of lavender as you’re drifting off to sleep that is SO relaxing! I got this super affordable diffuser (check out those reviews!) for my nightstand when we moved and let me tell you, there hasn’t been a single night that I’ve gone to sleep without turning it on. I even recently bought a lavender oil rollerball for when I’m traveling so I don’t have to go without it. It’s an addiction at this point.
How do you prioritize good sleep? Let me know if you try any of these or if you have any other habits I should add to my routine!
xx, Natalie
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