Use These Tips for Your Sleep Resolutions
By Brandi Goodman
Perhaps you vowed on New Year's Eve before the clock struck midnight to make better sleep your resolution. It's a great goal to have, but just how do you achieve it? Many people attempt to drift off at night only to be met with disappointment. With some tips in mind, you can meet any sleep resolutions you made and have a full year -- and lifetime -- of rest.
Make Your Bed a Sleep-Only Spot
If you find yourself eating in bed, watching TV, or worse... answering work emails and calls, you'll be less likely to want to sleep in it. You need to make your bed a sleep-only spot so you can go there for true rest and relaxation away from the rest of your daily to-do list. Correlating your bed with sleep will better help you achieve it.
Create a Sleep Environment
You need a full sleep environment set in your room if you're going to be able to drift off. Add blackout curtains to your windows that keep out light and even some sound. Make sure it's hard to hear anything else going on in the house from your room. This may make it necessary to turn on a fan or white noise machine to block out anything else. The fan will also work to help ensure the room is kept cool, which is an easier temperature to fall asleep in.
Enjoy Morning Exercise
Daily exercise is necessary if you have any hope of falling asleep easily. Exercise can boost your body's production of melatonin -- the sleep hormone. It will also wear you out and make it necessary for your body to get the Zzz's it needs at night. Don't work out close to bedtime, though. It can keep you up awhile since your endorphins get boosted. A morning exercise routine is the best option.
Seek Stress Relief Before Bed
Worries can keep you up at night. If you're feeling stressed and have a lot on your plate, it's best to seek stress relief far before bedtime gets here. You want to ease your worries as much as possible so you can drift off without the thoughts keeping you awake. Take a warm bath. Read a book. Make a to-do list for the next day so you know what needs to get done. Write in your journal. There are so many stress relievers you can try to help ease your mind.
Never let sleep pass you by. Do what you can to start a better sleep schedule that can help you achieve the sleep resolutions you set for yourself. You need proper rest to function well and remain healthy.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Roseville, Calif.