Imagine you have a big exam coming up, a presentation to conduct, or a vacation to leave the next day. Now more than ever is a moment when restorative sleep will do you good. Weirdly, you are stressed and can't get the rest and sleep that you need. Here are 11 tips to reduce stress and get more sleep for yourself. Apart from getting yourself a good mattress to sleep on, you really need to rewire yourself and your habits.
11 Tips To Reduce Stress and Get More Sleep
One typical example of how stress can disrupt sleep is when the fact that one can't fall asleep adds to one's anxiety. The following morning, you emerge from bed groggily, your eyes a little puffy from lack of sleep. Recognizable, right? Here are ten tips to prevent this from happening again and get a good night's rest regardless of the stresses of the day.
1. Give Yourself Small Breaks
Time for oneself is essential, even if it's just a few minutes here and there spread out over the course of the day. If you spend your day sitting at a desk, take a few deep breaths and let your mind wander to a more relaxing area (like your next vacation). If you make that a regular habit, you'll find that your stress levels have decreased by the day's end. Give yourself mini-breaks. It's time to stop and store, and of course, relax.
2. Get Active
You have to move it-move it! The pleasant exhaustion we feel after a workout is a side effect of exercise, which is an active method of dealing with stress. Spend some time walking about before or after supper. Reducing stress and easing tension through physical activity is a win-win.
3. Start Doing Something! Anything!
Regardless of how uncomfortable it may be, you should deal with whatever has been bugging you for days. Put an end to the burden of your troubles by working through them one at a time. Don't overcomplicate things; simply get it done (in your own time). Just start doing whatever you need to do. Stop thinking and start doing!
4. Keep Your Bedroom "Clean"
Yes! You need a "Clean" bedroom. What that is not cluttered with your mental "baggage". Even while a tidy bedroom might improve the quality of your rest, what we mean is that issues have no place in your bedroom. Keep a little notebook next to your bed and jot down any ideas that prevent you from nodding off. You can unwind and let go of this.
5. Ritualize Your Sleep
Bedtime rituals help us become physically and emotionally ready for sleep. Develop a set of steps that you take every night before turning it in. Several suggestions are as follows. Try a 10-minute yoga routine, some relaxation techniques, or a cup of herbal tea while reading a few pages (of a book or magazine). Perhaps you can also add these 5 proven mental tricks into your pre-sleep ritual as well.
6. Do It Before You Sleep
Do something constructive instead of lying in bed tossing and turning over a problem you can handle right this second. If you find yourself unusually alert, it's best to get up and keep moving until you tire out. It's useless to try to coerce yourself into sleep. No, it won't work like that. But not just how long you sleep, but how much time you spend in deep sleep is crucial. In light of this, length alone is not indicative of quality.
7. Lock Out Your Electronic Gadgets
Try to keep your bedroom as tech-free as possible. The last 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime should be spent reading, relaxing, or thinking about something other than work or school. Use analog alarm clocks and put away your phone, tablet, and other digital devices (yes, it's doable). Our constant companions, with their bright, flashing screens and the endless stream of information, prevent us from getting the rest we need. Leave them outside!
8. Write Something
Is it hopeless to try to fall asleep again? Put your ideas down on paper. Sometimes, you just need to write what is in your mind to put a stop to all those swirling thoughts in your head. It doesn't matter if it's 3 a.m. Get one of those little clip-on reading lamps so you can read in bed without disturbing your partner if you have one.
9. Remove All Clocks?
This is a bit extreme but what if your clocks are stressing you out? Don't check the (alarm) time if you wake up in the middle of the night. You'll only get more anxious as the clock ticks away while you know you should be sleeping. The alarm clock should be placed out of sight and reach. Toss them out and focus on your sleep.
10. Disconnect Yourself
At night, put your phone into airplane mode or turn it off completely. You can give it a shot after work or on the weekend occasionally. You need not make yourself readily available at all times. The truth is that you shouldn't be since your unconscious worry causes unnecessary stress on us. You not only have to leave your smartphone outside your bedroom, but also to make sure it will not buzz you with notifications that will distract you from your sleep.
11. Invest in a Good Mattress
You might not know this but the reason why you are not getting a good night's sleep is because of your mattress. When was the last time you changed your old, ancient bed? You will be surprised how a good mattress can melt your stress away and let you sleep soundly like a baby. I personally love my Origin Mattress and I have never had a bad night again. Purchasing a good mattress is actually a shrewd investment for your health and well-being.
There you go folks, 11 tips to reduce stress and get more sleep for yourself. I am not saying that all these 11 will work but you can mix and match them to help you have a goodnight's sleep. After all, sleep is the most important thing that every sentient being needs.
Images credit: Shutterstock
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