Tired of being tired? Sick of being sleepy during the day because you didn’t sleep well the night before? Millions of people around the world suffer the same fate and while there are plenty of over-the-counter and pharmaceutical options that can help in this area, many of them are habit-forming or even addictive.
With that in mind, we wanted to put together a list of some great things you can use to sleep better at night. Whether you’re worried about living off your credit card float or you’re just not comfortable in your own bed, we’ve got the products to help you sleep better at night.
1. Exercise Early
Don’t save your exercise routine until an hour before bed. While it may seem that “tiring yourself out” may be key to sleeping, the adrenaline and other effects of exercise can actually make it more difficult to fall asleep. Therefore, try cutting off exercise time at least two hours before bedtime.
2. Speaking of Bedtime
A big step to take is training your body and mind to go to bed. If you’re going to bed simply when you get tired or after you binge-watch a few episodes of your latest craze, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Try going to bed at the same time every night and you may find that falling asleep is much easier.
3. Hit the Showers
Even if you prefer to shower in the morning, a warm bath or shower an hour before bedtime can definitely set your body down the right path for sleep.
4. Get New Bedding
If your pillow is more than two years old, you should consider getting a new one. A memory foam pillow is not only cool and comfortable, as it conforms to your head and movements, but it can also help facilitate sleep.
5. Listen to Some White Noise
In order to stop thinking about your small business problems or how to fund your new startup, you need to distract your brain. A white noise machine or sleep sounds on your Amazon Alexa device can help you relax and fall asleep faster.
6. Melatonin & Other Supplements
As it is a central part of the body’s sleep-wake cycle, Melatonin is often referred to as the “sleep hormone.” Melatonin is naturally occurring in the body but Melatonin supplements can help you sleep much better.
Other supplements you can try are Glycine, Valerian Root, L-theanine, Magnesium, and Lavender.
However, please consult a physician before starting any of these.
7. Stop Eating & Drinking Late at Night
Late-night caffeine can affect your sleep patterns but so can eating. Certain foods and even eating late or drinking alcohol can adversely affect your body’s natural melatonin production.
8. Read
While you should unplug from your tablet or eReader at least 30 minutes before you plan to sleep, reading an actual book can help relax your mind and prepare it for sleep. Couple this with number 2 above and the set schedule alone can help train your body for bedtime.
Sleeping better doesn’t have to be an ongoing and endless battle. The items above have helped untold amounts of people just like you fall asleep faster and sleep better. Stop tossing and turning. Quit being grumpy in the mornings. Forget about going on prescription sleep meds. At least for now.
Consult with your physician for the supplements mentioned today or simply pick a couple of the other items and give them a try. You have nothing to lose except those all-annoying sleepless nights.