Do These Things to Fall Asleep Faster
By Sara Butler
You’ve likely read your fair share of bedtime advice. If long bubble baths and turmeric lattes don’t quite fit in with your lifestyle, then you need more practical advice to help you get to sleep and stay there. You may be surprised how a few subtle shifts in your nighttime routine can make a big difference to your sleep quality and quantity. In fact, if you follow this advice, you may find you’re able to fall asleep faster and wake up refreshed!
Journal
If you find yourself often tossing and turning because you’re replaying the day’s events in your head, then you might need to start journaling before bed.
Journaling is a compartmentalization exercise that allows you to put your thoughts down on paper so you don’t have to think about them anymore. Jot down everything from to-do lists to worries, to problems you encountered in an effort to let it go. You may realize that the stress you feel at bedtime that causes your mind to race is stemming from simply attempting to remember what you need to do -- writing it down helps to eliminate the worry and allow you to shut off your mind for a good night’s sleep.
Unplug
You may have heard this one before but it’s so important it bears repeating: You need to go screen-free before bed for at least one hour. This is vital to the ease you experience falling asleep and the quality of the sleep you get. Staying connected stimulates you and that’s not conducive to good shut-eye.
Take the time you’d normally spend scrolling through your inbox or Twitter and relax. Read a good book or practice some gentle stretches. What you do is up to you, but it’s important to block out the outside world as you prepare to enter your cozy sleep cocoon if you want to sleep well at night. The Twitterverse and all those emails will still be there in the morning.
Channel Your Energy
Now that your devices are turned off and your mind is clear, try to find other places that stress likes to hide so you can release it and go to sleep easier. Look for ways to release muscle tension by gently stretching your body in ways that target the spots people tend to keep stress such as the shoulders, neck, hips, and even your jaw.
Work on your bedtime routine and you'll be metaphorically sawing logs in no time!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Buford, Ga.