When your days are long and busier than you might like, you very likely head to bed hoping to pass out right away and get the sleep that you need to recover. Unfortunately, though, it can be difficult to fall asleep when you are stressed out or are too preoccupied with thinking about the challenges that await you tomorrow.
While everyone has different sleep needs, there are some methods that you can try that can help you to fall asleep. Since your body does a great deal of recovery at night while you sleep, it is important that you are able to both fall asleep at the right time and stay asleep throughout the night.
Here are just a few ideas to help you to fall asleep at night, and thus give your body the opportunity to recovery fully after a long day.
Make Your Bed as Comfortable as Possible
If you have been unable to fall asleep properly in recent weeks, the culprit might very well be the bed that you are sleeping in. For instance, it is recommended that you change your mattress every eight years. Failure to do so can result in a lumpy mattress that is void of proper support. Such a mattress can send you tossing and turning all night, resulting in you not getting the restful sleep that you need.
For similar reasons, you should also evaluate your pillows to see if it is time to get some new ones that are more supportive. Another item that can help you to fall asleep and achieve a full recovery is a weighted throw blanket. Such blankets provide a light pressure that many people find soothing and comforting. When you are fully comforted in this way, you will find it easier to fall asleep faster, and stay asleep for longer.
Stretch Before Bed
Carrying out a series of light stretches before bed can also help you to fall asleep sooner and feel more relaxed in the evening. Stretching daily is a great habit to get into in order to help facilitate a full recovery at night, and it can also go a long way to helping your body prepare for a restful night of sleep.
Throughout the day, your body performs a great deal of work, even if you don’t realize it. Stretching can help to loosen up joints and muscles that can become stiff throughout the day as well as release the build-up of lactic acid that can occur within your muscles.
Hydrate
While you will want to avoid too much water close to bedtime, as that can result in you getting out of bed in the middle of the night for a trip to the bathroom, staying hydrated throughout the day is an important step to ensuring that you get quality sleep and that your body can recover properly. Throughout the day, your joints and muscles can lose a great deal of hydration. It is important to keep your body fully hydrated so that those muscles can recover after a long day.
