Think of your body as a battery that powers you through each day. Just like your phone needs a good charge, your body needs a good long snooze to recover and recharge. But when life gets overwhelming, sleep is often the first thing to suffer.
Don’t let tossing and turning to steal your much-needed rest. Instead, try out some of these tricks to make your time between the sheets more restful. Choose the ones that fit your lifestyle and routine best, and watch as you wake up feeling more energized and ready to take on the day.
Why do we need to have quality sleep?
Sleep is a precious commodity we can’t afford to skimp on if we want to maintain good mental health. We spend about a third of our existence snuggled up in our beds, processing the events of the day while our minds and bodies recharge.
While the reasons behind why we need 6-8 hours of sleep a night remain somewhat mysterious, the advantages of getting a good night’s sleep are clear. From keeping our minds sharp and alert to helping us stay physically fit, sleep is an essential pillar of overall wellness.
But rest doesn’t always mean hitting the snooze button. Sometimes, it’s about indulging in an activity that brings us joy, like curling up with a good book or taking a stroll in nature. Whatever form it takes, rest is crucial to our mental and emotional well-being.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. When we’re feeling stressed, it can seem impossible to fall asleep. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to still have a good shut-eye.
Practice gratitude
When we let ourselves get caught in a downward spiral of negativity, it’s like we’re being sucked into a vortex that can leave us feeling drained and depleted. Our sleep suffers, and we end up stuck in a loop that only serves to drag us further down.
But there is a way out: practicing gratitude. By taking the time to reflect on and appreciate all the good things in our lives, we can break free from the cycle of negativity and start building up our emotional and mental well-being.
Set aside five minutes every day to use your Cloudberry journal and write down whatever you feel thankful for. An uninterrupted moment to enjoy your coffee. A sunny day. A cozy afternoon spent with your loved ones. Anything works.
Stay away from blue light
Who doesn’t love a good bedtime TikTok scroll, right? It’s tempting to dive into the endless pool of entertainment, but we all know that the blue light from our screens can ruin our precious sleep. However, we’re not here to lecture you on that. Instead, we’ve got an exciting solution – blue-light-blocking glasses with orange-tinted lenses!
A Swiss study – sure, it was small, but still – discovered that these glasses make wearers “significantly more sleepy.”
Take a shower
90 minutes before heading to bed, enjoy a relaxing shower. What’s important is to have it warm – not hot.
The subsequent drop in body temperature after your shower is what will make you feel sleepy and ready for a peaceful night’s rest.
Photo by @JessHarley
End notes
We all know that having a good night’s rest is essential for our well-being, yet, it’s often the least of our priorities. Use these tips to ensure you get the sleep you deserve!
