4 Things To Do To Get a Good Night's Rest
image via homeandaway
Ever lay awake in bed at night angry at your brain for not being able to turn off and let yourself fall asleep? How rude! Doesn’t it know that you don’t get any timeouts during the day while working or chasing littles or a combination of both?! Hey, maybe you just haven’t communicated your expectations very well. It happens to the best of us. Here are a few tips we put together to help you and your brain get on the same page when it comes time to hunker down for the night.
1 | Cut the caffeine
If we’re really honest with ourselves, we’re all still babies on the inside. Warm milk, anyone? A nice glass of something warm and cozy might be all it takes to melt the worries of the world away and let you sink into your happy place. But coffee lovers, beware! Even a cup of decaf can keep you awake at night or even give you nightmares seeing as it’s a brain stimulant. *How ‘bout, no.* Instead of dreaming that you’re naked in front of everyone, opt for this instead: grab your favorite night-time tea and let it steep to perfection. Drink it about an hour before hitting the sack to really let it do its magic and let the comfy cozy vibes flow!
2 | Turn down for what?
Ehem, turn down the lights. We’re talking to you, iPhone. Why? Remember the brain stimulation we talked about? Well checking your notifications at night does that, too. Not great during a time when the goal is to wind down. What’s worse, is that checking your phone at night before bed (or if you wake up in the middle of the night) can promote stress. Get a random email from your boss or your oldest’s teacher? Well guess what’s on your mind now: how to reply, (when to reply so that they don’t know how late you were up, and all the stuff you have to take care of in the morning. Instead, do yourself a solid and let that phone of yours get 20 winks, too. Put it in a drawer close-by for the night about 30 minutes before you hit the hay and be strong if you think about checking it! We believe in you!
3 | Clear your head
Say your mind doesn’t get the hint when your head hits the pillow that it’s “lights out.” We have a solution for that. Instead of keeping your to-do list in your head where it keeps nagging you about how busy you are- evict it! Jot down the important things you have to do or remember the next day on a piece of paper or on a note app on your phone. Once you’ve written down all the things, say “ta ta for now” to your to-do list. Now you can rest easy until the morning knowing that you won’t forget anything during your restful night’s sleep!
4 | Respect the bed
Whether you work at home, are an Instagram fiend, or simply love to Netflix binge, you might want to think twice before making your bed into a makeshift sofa or desk. Being able to fall asleep quickly at night has a lot to do with that brain of yours. If you constantly tell it that bed is for surfing the web or work, it’s not going to forget very easily. Rather, just like a puppy, train your brain to associate your bed with, well, sleep! That, or cuddling. We’ll allow cuddling.
Got your own tips for falling and staying asleep? Let us know over on Insta!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chelsea Damon is a writer and a mama who is passionate about coffee, joyful marriages, healthy lifestyles, and Dwell + Slumber! You can read more of Chelsea's writing on her blog, Living the Sweet Life.