If you’re similar to me, the past few months I’ve been extremely restless and struggling to fall asleep for hours… if even at all. Lying awake, thought after thought, the harder you try to sleep the more anxious you become. In the morning, red eyes, saggy bags, and extremely cranky — not good for a full day’s work!
After many sleepless nights, I got extremely frustrated and wanted to do all I could to resolve my problem and resume my sleep-restored nights. I was worried about my health, my stress levels, alertness, and even my cognitive ability.
I’ve tried many things in the book and have really resonated with these 5 things that have helped me tremendously. I hope these five secrets help you too.
Routine is Key
There’s nothing like waking up at 6:30AM one morning to commute to your in-office job, then sleeping until 8:30AM the next morning because you can work from home. BAD! This was one of my major pitfalls that was ruining my circadian rhythm. What really helped me on those early-office mornings when the sun wasn’t up was a Sunrise Lamp. With no sun in the AM, this cured my confusion of wakeup and helped to make every morning feel the same. It enhanced my mood, and I woke up at the same time every morning.
You Need to Sleep in a Cool Room
Nothing is worse than your body temperature overheating and tossing and turning constantly all night. This is why I bought a mini Air Conditioner right next to my bed. It’s portable (for hotel sleeps), fits right on my nightstand, and I use it during the day while working in my home office!
Read, Read, Read
You’ve heard it before, but a phone before bed is one of the worst things you can do. Blue light, social media, and notifications will never shut your brain off the way you need it to. That’s why, you need a long and good series to read before bed, at least an hour of peace with no interuptions. The ACOTAR Book Series is what cured me… I mean I actually preferred to have my head in these books than TikTok. They will keep you intrigued every night and help you doze off into fantasy land.
Block out The Light
Not only is blue light distracting, but so is the tiny green LED light that projects from your boyfriend’s PS5. You need to block it all out, no light in sight and the best way to do that is with the LitBear Silk Sleep mask. No uncomfortability here, if you’re a side sleeper like me, it basically feels like an extra layer of pillow on your face!
Melatonin isn’t for the Weak
So if you’re also like me and have tried all else but have failed, it’s totally OK to take melatonin once in a while! Olly is my favorite brand, and has done the trick for me each time. The ingredients inside supports calmness, which is perfect for your nighttime read before bed.
I hope these 5 tips help you like they really helped me. Mindfulness, rest, and restoring your routine will help you wonders, just take the steps bit by bit.