5 Simple Ways to Sleep Better

Nothing is worse than tossing and turning at night, watching precious hours of sleep dwindle away into early morning hours.  If you find yourself having trouble dozing off at night, try these 5 tips to help you relax into a peacul night's sleep. 

Relax Your Mind and Body-  Wind down with a bubble bath, candlelight and music, or yoga.  I know it may sound like you're romancing yourself, but the warmth of a bubble bath and the dim light of a candle can go a long way to relaxing your mind.  With a calm mind you're one step close to a great night of shut eye. 

Leave Your Troubles at the Door-  Sometimes I lose sleep because I'm awake thinking about all of the things I have to get done the next day.  When I find myself sleepless with worry, I grab a pen and paper and write down a list of thigns I need to get done from the highest priority to the lowest.  Writing these tasks down takes them off my mind and help me relax knowing that I won't forget the next days work.  It really works!

Avoid Alcohol and Caffine-  Ok, caffine is an obvious thing to avoid before bed, but alcohol too?  Though you may think of alcohol as a sedative, it can actually disrupt sleep and lead to a poor sleep quality.   Try avoiding excess amounts of alcohol before bed. 

Stop Smoking-  Did you know that nicotine is a stimulant just like caffine?  Though a cigarette before bed may seem relaxing, the stimulant effect of that cigarette may actually disrupt you sleep.

Think About What You Eat-  I know that going to bed with a huge burger in my belly can sometimes be uncomfortable.  Going to bed on an empty stomach also makes it hard to sleep.  The solution-  have a small dinner 2-3 hours before bed.  If you find yourself needing a snack before work, reach for turkey, peanut butter or a glass of milk.  All three have the amino acid tryptophan which helps you feel sleepy.