No one can operate at their most effective when they are sleep deprived. A good night’s sleep is vital for your body and mind to reenergize, repair and renovate. Short term lack of sleep can leave you lethargic and prone to stress. In the long term, sleep deprivation can increase your risk of stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, depression and a whole lot more. I’ve got here a whole list of things you can try when you struggle to get to sleep or sleep for long enough. You’ll find some of these suggestions contradictory so you have to experiment to see which works best for you.
1. Make Your Bedroom Dark to Fall Asleep Faster
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2. Make Use of Earplugs to Avoid Any Disturbance
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3. Wear Your Night Socks with Your Pajamas Tucked in It to Avoid Feeling Cold
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4. Say No to Alcohol and Smoking before Bed to Avoid Disruptions during Sleep
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5. Think about Something Beautiful While Trying to Sleep
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6. Keep Calm when You Cannot Fall Asleep and the Sleep Will Follow
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7. Make Your Brain Think You're Tired by Yawning
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8. Put Your Love for Pets on Hold and Keep Them out of Your Room at Night
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9. Take a Warm Shower before You Go to Bed to Make You Sleepy
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10. Drink Milk or Some Warm Liquid before You Go to Sleep
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11. Try a Few Quick Stretches before You Go to Sleep to Relax Your Body and Mind
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12. Don't Drink Too Much Caffeine Right before You Go to Bed
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13. Wear a Sleep Mask
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14. Invest in a Bigger Bed to Have Enough Space to Sleep Comfortably
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15. Try Natural Sleep Aids to Fall Asleep
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16. Have Drapes around the Bed to Cut out Light and Feel as if You’re in a Sanctuary
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17. Quit Using the Internet in Bed to Relax Your Brain and Sleep Better
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18. Select Your Mattress and Pillow considering Your Sleeping Style
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19. Spend Time Outdoors Each Day to Keep Your Circadian Rhythm in Balance
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20. Create a Relaxing Environment and Make an Effort to Sleep Early Every Night
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21. Set a Time to Go to Bed and Get up in the Morning and Stick to Them
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22. Ditch Your Phones, Computer, and Other Devices Hours before You Go to Sleep
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23. Avoid Taking a Nap in the Middle of the Day to Make It Easier to Fall Asleep at Night
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24. Imagine Sinking down into Your Mattress to Tell Your Brain It's Time to Sleep
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25. Wear Whatever’s Comfortable to You
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26. Read to Relax but Avoid Mysteries, Horrors and Thrillers That Will Keep Your Mind Working
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27. Play a Musical Instrument before You Go to Bed
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28. Write a Trippy Dream in a Notebook and Forget about It until Morning
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29. Keep Your Bedroom Lights Low for at Least an Hour before Bed
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30. Change the Wall Color, Arrange the Furniture, and Make Other Changes to Make Your Bedroom Feel Comfortable
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31. Meditate
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32. Don’t Go to Bed Hungry
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33. Try a Homemade Bedtime Rub
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34. Experiment and Find the Best Position That Helps You Fall Asleep Quickly
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35. Have a Bedtime Mantra
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36. Don’t Go to Bed Angry
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37. Relax Every Muscle in Your Body Starting from Your Toes All the Way up to Your Neck
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38. Make Sure to Have a Comfortable Temperature in Your Room
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39. Enjoy Some Lyric-free Music at Low Volume to Relax and Feel Sleepy
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40. Try Deep Breathing before Bed to Relax Stress and Prepare Your Body for a Relaxing Sleep
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41. Avoid Drinking Liquids before Bed for an Uninterrupted Sleep
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42. Turn Your Phone off
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44. Set Your TV at a Low Volume at Least an Hour before You Go to Sleep
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45. Get Your Partner to Give You a Relaxing Massage
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are some quick tips to fall asleep faster?
- Try deep breathing exercises and limit screen time an hour before bed to relax your mind.
- Can bedtime routines really help with insomnia?
- Yes, consistent bedtime routines signal your body it's time to wind down, improving sleep quality.
- Are there specific foods that help promote sleep?
- Foods rich in magnesium, like almonds and spinach, and those containing tryptophan, like turkey, can help you sleep better.
- How does exercise influence sleep for women?
- Regular moderate exercise can improve sleep quality, but avoid vigorous workouts close to bedtime.
- Is it okay to use sleep aids or supplements?
- Occasional use of supplements like melatonin can help, but it's best to consult a doctor before regular use.
- How can stress affect my ability to fall asleep?
- Stress can make it harder to relax and fall asleep, so practicing mindfulness or journaling may help reduce anxiety.
- What role does bedroom environment play in sleep?
- A cool, dark, and quiet room creates the ideal environment for restful sleep.
- Can limiting caffeine improve sleep for women?
- Yes, avoiding caffeine after early afternoon can prevent sleep disruptions at night.
- Is napping during the day good or bad for insomnia?
- Short naps (20-30 minutes) can be refreshing, but long or late naps might interfere with nighttime sleep.
- How important is screen time before bed?
- Reducing exposure to blue light from screens at least an hour before bedtime helps your body prepare for sleep.