There are many factors that go into a good night's sleep: very comfortable linens , the perfect duvet , a supportive pillow , just to name a few! And while we hope you're already having great dreams and waking up rested and refreshed, here are six ways to sleep even better.
01 Relax with yoga before bed
We all have a busy day and sometimes it's hard to prioritize exercise. But even if you can't get in a full workout every day, do some stretching before bed to tell your limbic system it's time to relax. There are many options available online, such as Yoga Journal's easy 6-pose sequence, which includes poses you'll recognize if you've done yoga before, such as twists and the child's pose.
02 No bedtime 'true crime documentaries'
We're not going to tell you not to watch TV before bed. Is not that great? Here you go. However, we will tell you not to watch anything completely disturbing before bed! Scary cult documentaries and the like should be avoided after dark if you're even remotely prone to nightmares or waking up in a panic because you're convinced your clothes rack is human.
03 Put pen and paper on your bedside table
If you're one of those people who are kept awake by wandering thoughts followed by the fear of forgetting those wandering thoughts, having a pen and pad of paper by the bed makes a world of difference. That way, you can jot down whatever comes to mind at 1:00 a.m. (e.g. "Send dad a birthday present"), and your brain doesn't have to keep reminding you - in a repetitive loop - while you try to sleep.
04 If you can't sleep, read a book
My mother always said if you can't sleep, read a book. While it's true that some sleep experts frown on reading in bed, in this case I'll say my mom knows best. With the constant bombardment of phones and computers these days, a book is inevitably more "chill" than whatever you've been up to all day (no eBooks allowed). So if you can't sleep, read a few pages, distract yourself, and prepare to drift off in no time.
05 Relax; it's just sleep
No seriously. The worst thing you can do when you can't sleep is punish yourself for not being able to sleep. Maybe you're just not tired. So if your quest to hit the perfect eight hours becomes self-flagellation when you fail, then skip sleep tracking for a few days and see how you feel. If the sleepless nights don't succeed, you could be suffering from insomnia; here's how you can help .
06 They are not called "essential" oils for nothing
I know, I know - essential oils have been around for so long it's hard to get excited about them. But the humble essential oil has survived the rise and fall of many lesser wellness trends - RIP Acai - because it works. When it comes to naturally relaxing before bed, nothing beats a few drops of lavender, our favorite sleep scent, in the diffuser.
Follow these six tips and we promise you will wake up rested and be able to start the day with more vitality.