We all know the awful feeling of not being able to fall asleep at night. 

Whether it’s a never-ending to-do list running through your mind, or random thoughts that just keep popping up, some nights it seems like you may never get to sleep. 

Luckily, there are many things you can do to help minimize your tossing and turning, both before and after bed.

First, let’s talk about things you can do before you get into bed that can help you fall asleep faster.

Biomedical engineers have found that people who take a warm bath about 90 minutes before bedtime are able to fall asleep faster (1). 

Our bodies have a natural temperature cycle that correlates with our circadian rhythms — and we like to have a slightly cooler body temperature right before sleeping. 

Baths help because increasing your body temperature as you bathe actually results in your body cooling down to the perfect sleep temperature after your bath, right as you’re falling asleep. 

Try sudsing up tonight and see how it affects your sleep. Extra points if you use a calming scent in your bath, like lavender or chamomile.

While reaching for a hit of caffeine may help you get through the rest of your workday, it’s likely affecting your ability to sleep. 

Caffeine has a half-life of about 5 hours — so if your go-to pick-me-up is a 4 o’clock java, approximately half of that caffeine would still be in your system at 9 p.m. 

Some people do metabolize caffeine quicker than others and aren’t as affected by the jitters or energy boost that it provides (you know who you are!). 

However, it’s more likely that you don’t fully realize how much your afternoon coffee fix impacts your ability to wind down at night. Even if you don’t physically feel the effects of caffeine at bedtime, it may still be in your system (2). 

This week, try giving yourself a caffeine “cut-off” time of at least 6 hours before bedtime. The earlier, the better!

Whether it’s scrolling through social media on our phones, squeezing in one last Netflix show, or checking email in bed, electronics tend to rule our lives — and you’re likely constantly surrounded by them in your home.

The problem? Your devices give off blue light, which is a type of light that tells your body to wake up. That’s helpful in the morning — not so much when you’re trying to sleep. 

If you can, try turning off the screens 1-2 hours before bedtime and pull out a book instead. And if ditching your laptop and phone for a couple of hours before bed isn’t an option, try blue light blocking glasses.

Alright, now let’s go over some options for things to do when you’re already in bed and can’t sleep!

You may already be a pro meditator, or you may be one who thinks it’s just for the yoga crowd. But whether you realize it or not, meditating (or even just deep breathing) can help you to fall asleep. 

We’re all prone to racing thoughts that won’t calm down — so if you’re affected by this, know that you’re not alone. 

Counting to ten and focusing on your inhalation and exhalation as you breathe can help your body to relax almost immediately. Repeat until you’re fast asleep.

Sometimes we can’t fall asleep at night because we’re thinking of all the things we need to do tomorrow or didn’t get done today. 

If you’re one of those people, keeping a notepad with a pen on your nightstand can help. Jot down everything that’s on your mind to get those thoughts out of your head. 

Just knowing that the list is there for tomorrow and that you won’t forget anything can help your mind to relax, calm down and get to sleep.

Skip the Sleepless Nights

Whether it’s a warming tea or bath before bed or trying your hand at meditation, there are plenty of things you can do to help your body and mind relax and get a good night’s sleep. 

What works to help you fall and stay asleep? Let us know in the comments.

Sources:

(1) University of Texas at Austin. “Take a bath 90 minutes before bedtime to get better sleep." Science Daily, 19 Jul. 2019, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190719173554.htm

(2) Chu, Melissa. "The Latest Time You Should Drink Coffee, According to Science." Mission.org, 15 Aug. 2019, www.medium.com/the-mission/the-latest-time-you-should-drink-coffee-according-to-science-8c1db17bca21