Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your wellness. We know this right?

Studies have shown that a lack of good sleep can significantly affect your health and lead to more serious medical conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even diabetes.

If you live, say, 75 years, you will spend 25 years asleep, or 9,125 days, so you need to get it right.

Here are 5 ways to help you sleep better…

1.Creating a space for relaxation

Make sure that your bedroom is a relaxing place where you feel safe. Try to keep your room clean, so you’re not stepping over dirty laundry, piles of books, makeup, and devices before you hit the mattress. Try also to keep your sheets clean. There’s no nicer feeling than getting into a freshly made bed with bedclothes straight off the line.

2. Use Lavender 

Lavender is the queen of essential oils that contribute to good sleep. You can use lavender in the following ways:

• Drop a few drops directly onto your pillow before you go to sleep.
• Put a small drop on your temples or wrists before bedtime or mix with your favourite moisturizer to spread the oil more evenly
• Lavender pillow spray or incense sticks can also be beneficial for sleep and you can spray into the air in your room also
• If you have a few bob to spare, use a diffuser that sprays lavender mist and into the air as you sleep
• Finally, you can take a warm bath with a few drops of lavender oil added or a lavender bath bomb or bubble bath. Any excuse to go to Lush right?

 

3. Deep breathing & ASMR to help you sleep

Breathing is free!! So take a deep one and release those endorphins!

Deep breathing sends a message to your brain to relax and calm down and lets your system know that you are not in danger. Oxygen delivery decreases anxiety and tells you you are safe. Breathing deeply will help you to relax well not to mention lowering your blood pressure. Deep breathing benefits both physical and mental health. Stress is decreased and confidence is boosted by deep breathing with better blood circulation.

4. Unplug your devices and power off or use a blue light filter (if needed)

Melatonin is needed for a good night’s sleep and your device inhibits this from being produced because of the light on your device – so it keeps you awake.

Melatonin, a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan, is produced in humans, other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. In humans, melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of sleep cycles (i.e., circadian rhythm). Its production is influenced by the detection of light and dark by the retina of the eye. In other words, your phone is keeping you awake!

So, using your phone or a device at night inhibits the amino acid from being produced and is actually very much anti-sleep. So there is a suggestion if you really need to use your phone at night – called the blue light filter.

An excellent blue light filter can be downloaded for free here, or you can turn your phone off altogether and read a book until your eyes are naturally tired.

5. Snack lightly on the right foods and avoid coffee late in the day

Having a heavy snack before bed can really go against you no matter how hungry you are. Here are some healthy, sleep-inducing options to help you have a restful night.

Scrambled egg:  fill you and allow protein into your system throughout the night replenishing muscles and your brain

Half an apple with peanut butter

Pistachios:  loaded with vitamin B6 – rich in anti-oxidants and nutrients.

Finally, Meditation has been shown to help people stress less, focus more, and even sleep better. there are lots of great apps like Headspace and Calm which you can try if all else fails.

Sleep is essential for keeping you at your best. I hope you will find these tips useful.

May you have a restful sleep

Amy x

 

Amy is a life coach and can be found at www.appiness.ie

 

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