Healthy living is always on my mind. A little indulgence here and there is great, but exercising and eating organic, nutrient-rich meals is always part of my routine. Getting enough sound sleep is one part of living a healthy life that can often be overlooked.
Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to deny it, I can be guilty of this too. A glance through my Instagram is a tell-tale sign. A hectic schedule alone can cause exhaustion.
I wrote these ideas down when I was pregnant with Ariah. I try my best to stick to these routines, even as they grow and routines change. Otherwise, I’m trying to nap any chance I can. LOL.
Here are my tips for getting to sleep quicker and making the most out of the hours you do get (especially if you can’t get the average eight).
Step Aways From The Electronics
We’re so attached to our phones and iPads that they often consume the last hours of our day, but you should give this time to your family or use them to unwind. A nice bath or picking up a physical copy of a book will calm your mind and body and allow you to fall asleep more quickly. I love reading before bed, or looking through recipes I want to try.
Get Comfortable
If you run hot and your partner cold it can be difficult to get the temperature in the room comfortable for both of you. It’s best to keep the room cool and pile more blankets on your half of the bed to stay warm instead of overheating you both. No one wants to wake up a sweaty mess.
Temperature isn’t the only concern, though. Try to make the room as dark as possible so no glowing lights tease you awake.
Oh! And lastly, smell can play a roll in how you sleep, too! As a fan of essential oils, I find that burning a soothing scent like lavender or Young Living’s Peace and Calming will freshen the air and calm the nerves.
Try A Sleep Mask
I know, the hubs miiiight not be completely on board with you sliding on a mask and checking out for the night (lol), but when you truly need a good night’s sleep, being in complete darkness works wonders. Numerous studies have shown just how bad light is for your quality of sleep – as it halts melatonin release – so having something to fall back on when the outside world’s light penetrates your bedroom is key.
Sleep masks are also helpful if you get stress headaches… The light sensitivity is real. My favorite material for a sleep mask is silk.
The Proper Bed
From firmness to the way the sheets feel, getting the best refresh and beauty rest can come down to what you’re sleeping on. You need to have a mattress with just the right firmness, and if yours doesn’t meet your needs, think about investing in a foam topper for some extra cushion.
Purchasing the right mattress isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision. It takes research and testing out a lot of beds before finding the right one. An ergonomic pillow or belly pillow for us preggos can help properly align our bodies so we sleep more soundly and wake up with fewer aches come morning. Don’t forget the sheets! I enjoy a nice high thread count Egyptian cotton set for its breathability and overall soft texture.
Pamper Yourself
One of my favorite tips is to treat yourself and your skin right before bedtime. I already suggested a bath to wind down the day (with a glass of wine sounds so nice!), but following a nightly beauty routine helps. This will train your body to know it’s time to go to sleep and help your skin be its best. Brush your teeth, wash your face and apply a light scented serum or try a mud mask to relax the skin while hydrating.
The process and alone time will ease the body and soul–giving you time to decompress and gain clarity. Even using a humidifier in the room can keep air cool and nourish your skin.
Focus On Your Breath
A lot of people who lead busy, chaotic lives have trouble falling asleep because it’s so easy for the mind to wander. The next day’s tasks are already piling up while you’re counting down the hours of sleep you’ve already missed in the background.
Sound familiar?
You may need something else to focus on in order to keep your mind in check, and the breath is the simplest thing to shift to. It’s not something you may normally notice, but when it takes all your attention, your mind has a much harder time wandering. This can be very meditative and help you fall asleep faster than you think. Any time your mind wanders, gently force yourself to regain focus.
Set A Routine For The Kiddos
One day while putting Aden and Ariah’s bathrobes back on the door after bath time, I couldn’t help but smile! They looked so adorable hanging there, which got me thinking all about our favorite nighttime rituals. Setting a nighttime routine is crucial in keeping your children aware of (dun dun dun) sleepy time.
I find it makes it so much easier to get the kids down when there is a routine in place. Now that we’ve been a family of four for over a year now, we have an established bedtime routine that involves three very important things:
- Bathtime
- Reading
- Prayer
No matter what your routine is, the important thing is that it works for all of you – that it helps your children and provides that quality family time. Just know that it’s totally normal to get off track every now and then. We sometimes have a slumber party in our bed and watch kiddy movies – ah, the simple pleasures of being parents – so it’d be impossible to stick to the routine every night. But as long as there’s something in place that creates a sense of regularity for them, there won’t be any surprises when we tell them it’s bedtime.
Cut Off The Stress Talk
From the stress talk, that is. You know how you’re supposed to unplug an hour before bed for better sleep? Well, when trying to unplug, lots of us end up simply talking about our stressors instead. Talking things through with your spouse IS important, but when it comes time to lay your head down, continuing to chat about stressors often just winds us up even more. If you like to talk before catching Zzz’s, let your partner know that you want to avoid stress-inducing subjects, and they can catch you when you slip up.
Do you have any tricks for getting a sound nights sleep?
Xx,
Tamera
4 Responses
Hey Tamera This is what I do I just lay down a relax and claim my mind so I can get a sound bright sleep but it’s hard for me to get any rest because I don’t be tired. I believe I have a sleep disorder but then again I don’t know. I took the test for narcolepsy and it was a negative number but I don’t know what that means.
God bless Bon nuit! :-) Itz been positively real … :-) yo!
♡
Great suggestions!! Doing some pre-bed yoga poses or stretches are great for relaxing, making sure all lights are out black out curtains are awesome), calming/serene music also helps me go to sleep and finally always try to be consistent with your sleep time.