We all know when we have had a poor night’s sleep. There is something about the feeling we have the morning after a disturbed night that makes everything we do feel more difficult. You move more slowly, you feel less steady, and emotions are often a bit closer to the surface – good emotions and negative ones alike. It’s not lost on anyone that bedtime is an important stretch of time for us all.What a lot of people might not realize is just how many ways there are to get a better sleep, or make it worse. Not only is there a lot we can do to affect how beneficial our sleep is, but there are a few surprising facts, things we thought were positive (but aren’t!) and a wealth of other information that is well worth knowing if you want to get the best night’s shuteye, so read on…
Reading is fine, but…
It’s tricky to figure out how we should feel about a book before bedtime. By reading, we are working our brains, and it is easy to see how that could be a negative. After all, if your mind is racing, it’s next to impossible to settle down. However, studies show that reading before bedtime relaxes us physically, by allowing us to settle and breathe for a spell, and mentally by distracting us from stressors. Of course, what you read has an impact too: avoid page-turning thrillers for obvious reasons – and read an actual physical book, as e-readers use LED lights that affect our production of melatonin, and prevent us getting better sleep.
Eat and drink the right things
It should be obvious that coffee before bedtime is a bad idea, so let’s assume that’s covered. The same is true of anything sugary like soft drinks or milkshakes, as well as foods like chocolate. In truth, no food at all should be taken within two hours of bedtime if you want to sleep well. If you are eating that close to bedtime, it should ideally be something light like a salad.
Supplements and tinctures are fine, too, as they won’t settle on the stomach. Some may even help you sleep, such as CBD supplements from the likes of https://www.everydayoptimalcbd.com/, while a cup of herbal tea can help your digestion and other physical processes. Take a glass of water with you, too, as thirst impulses can wake you up. What you eat or drink at bedtime can certainly help you get better sleep, or worse.
Music can help you get better sleep
Listening to music before bedtime is potentially very beneficial as long as it’s the right music. Naturally, anything that is loud and pulsing is a bad choice, as is anything that could be described as an “earworm” – you don’t want to spend three hours tossing and turning while “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen works its way through your brain. Quiet, ambient beats are good, as is gentle classical music. According to inc.com, the best track for sleep is believed to be “Weightless” by Marconi Union, although you may find you have your own preferences.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for being the best you in the morning – so take the opportunity to aid your brain in letting you have the most relaxing six to eight hours imaginable.
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