 |
| not my photo |
Hey everyone! 2019 is now upon us and many people, as always, have made resolutions to be happy and healthy in this new year.
That is all and good, but I am a firm believer that a good night sleep is essential to this plan.
Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with having the perfect beauty rest every night. Some nights we toss and turn and only have a light sleep.
All of that being said, here are my tips on getting a better night's sleep:
1. Have a good pillow
This is very important. Your pillow can make a world of difference and you want to make sure your head is comfortable while you sleep.
2. Temperature control
I like having my room a bit cooler for sleeping. I have found that I can't fall asleep or sleep very well when it's hot in my room. I have a duvet on my bed all year round, as well as a fan. Having these two things enables me to get my perfect level of warmth. There are many times when I wrap myself in my duvet and only stick my foot out to cool myself down.
3. Noise control
If you can't sleep when it is noisy, I would suggest buying a pair of ear plugs. There are things that make noise that we just can't control and plugs will help you out for sure.
On another note, if you like sound, white noise helps. I don't like when it's noisy, but I also dislike when it's really quiet. What can I say, the silence is a scary sound.
In the past, I have downloaded white noise apps onto my phone. It's great to pick your own mix of sounds and you can set a timer for it as well. I've even asked Alexa to play some piano lullabies for me or some soothing rain sounds.
Like I said, I have a fan which keeps me cool and also satisfies my white noise needs.
Also my dog snores.
4. Light control
It can be hard to sleep when it's bright. I feel you. The corner street lamp is visible from my room if I'm laying at a bad angle. Invest in some room darkening curtains. I have white ones which helps cancel out bright light, but it also allows light into my room. I'm not a fan of the dark ones. While they cancel out all light, I find it harder to wake up because the lack of light can make it feel like it's still night time, when in reality it's time to rise and shine!
5. Don't over stimulate your eyes!
This is so important! Sometimes if you're on your phone, tablet, laptop, whatever before bed, your eyes are very stimulated and have a hard time relaxing.I would recommend watching tv if you need something electronic to relax because it's farther away from your eyes.
6. Pamper yourself
Establish a night routine. Maybe it's doing a face mask to relax, having some tea and reading a book for a bit.
7. Meditate
When you're laying in bed, try to clear your mind. I know, it's impossible to do sometimes. We have so much stress and worries that it's hard to relax. Spray your pillow with some aromatherapy mist (vanilla & lavender is perfect!), or put on your diffuser and lay on your back. If you have trouble clearing your mind, try to visualize putting everything boxes and tossing them away. Or just literally think of nothing.
This might seem odd, but unclench your jaw, open your hands and have your palms out (or up, whichever). This really helps relax your body because no muscles are clenched.
Breathe deeply. Focus on different parts of your body. The feeling. Deep breath. And slowly return to normal breathing.
Goodnight!
