Resting easy is hard work!
We hear it over and over again. From family, friends, and co-workers alike, “I couldn’t fall asleep last night”. Without fail, every morning in line at the coffee shop bleary eyed folks order huge, fully-sugared, high-octane coffees, hoping to make it through a long morning after a short night.
We understand, everyone is tired. Our lives all move at a fast pace. But is that it? Are we stuck in this endless cycle of too much work, late nights, restlessness and tired mornings? Not at all! Here are some of our favorite healthy sleeping tips that you can try tonight!
Benefits of Sleep
Sleep has many different benefits, from helping our brains to retain more information to restoring our bodies. Sleep is crucial for optimal health. Getting the restorative benefits of sleep means getting quality sleep.
Quality sleep consists of, first and foremost, getting enough sleep. This means getting 7-9 hours per night. Secondly, quality sleep means getting deep, uninterrupted sleep. When your body is in the deepest stages of sleep (REM sleep), this is when your brain is refreshed and renewed. Getting enough deep sleep is crucial for having high energy output when you’re awake.
Ways To Sleep Better
Since sleep is so important, you should consider taking special precautions to ensure that you get the sleep you need. Poor sleep is usually the result of poor sleep habits. Check out these natural ways to sleep better.
- Create An Evening Routine To Help You Unwind
Here’s the scenario: You work in front of a computer screen all day. After a hectic day, you maybe hit the gym or grab a quick bite to eat. When you finally arrive home, you plop down on the couch and catch up on the news or your favorite shows while endlessly scrolling through your phone to see what everyone’s up to.
Then you realize it’s after 11pm and you should probably go to bed. So you brush your teeth, find some PJ’s and crawl into bed, only to find that you’re wide awake. And the clock is taunting you. There are a million things on your mind.
Try this instead. Be intentional; make it your goal to power off by 10pm (or earlier!) every night. Turn off your electronics and focus on relaxing. Take a hot shower or bath, read a magazine or favorite book (paper, not digital!), spend time with your family, or journal about your day. Not only are these wonderful daily habits, but you may just find yourself nodding off.
- Fuel Your Body For Deep Sleep
Some foods are naturally relaxing, some are even naturally high in melatonin (a hormone that aids your body in falling asleep). Choosing your evening snack wisely may be more beneficial than you realize.
Tart Cherry Juice is delicious and naturally contains melatonin. Try drinking a small glass before bed. Combine it with good fats by blending tart cherry juice into a smoothie or drizzle it over organic yogurt. If you’re not much of a snacker, you can sip a hot cup of herbal chamomile tea. Going to bed with a full belly ensures you won’t be up in the middle of the night looking for a snack when you should be sleeping!
- Take A Natural Sleep Aid
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it’s difficult to get good sleep. Whether it’s worried thoughts that keep us from falling asleep, or anxiety that constantly wakes us up throughout the night, sometimes you need something a little extra to get your body into deep sleep. For those times, use a natural sleep aid to give your body the relaxing nudge that it needs.
Sleep supplements can go a long way towards helping you fall asleep, and stay asleep, at night.