Tips for a good night’s sleep

Sleep is not only a wonderful reward at the end of the day, it is also essential for good mental and physical health. Our body needs rest to recover from the day and through our dreams our brains can make sense of the events of the day. Yet unfortunately it is believed that one in three people experience problems getting to sleep. If you find yourself spending night after night watching the hours tick, you might want to have a look at the tips below.

Routine

Sticking to a set bedtime routine helps prepare your body for sleep. If you do the same actions before bed every night your body will come to expect sleep, which can help you get to sleep faster. Try incorporating the tips below into a fixed nighttime routine to prepare for a good night’s sleep.

Write

How often have you found yourself lying awake in bed thinking about everything that happened that day and all the things that are going to happen the next day? Not beneficial for a good night’s sleep. A way to prevent this is by writing in a diary. You may not be a teen girl but bear with us for a moment. Keeping a diary gives you a chance to organise your thoughts before bed. It is also a good place to make a to-do list for the following day so that you don’t lie awake thinking about everything you need to remember.

Meditate

After you have organised your thoughts it is also beneficial to clear your mind. A great way to do that is through meditation. Have a good stretch and get into a comfortable sitting position. If you are a newbie at meditation you can try apps such as Headspace or Calm.

Bed time tea

While you are writing you can try a mug of bed time tea to get your body ready for sleep. There are certain herbs and ingredients that can help you relax and feel sleepy. Look out for chamomile, lavender, valerian and hops. Have a mug of tea about 20 to 30 minutes before you go to sleep.

Sleep tight!

Sally Wijers