I have a whole ritual to help me get to sleep at night. All my life, I’ve been plagued with a racing mind, especially around bedtime. To mitigate this issue and get a good night’s sleep, I take a few extra steps in my nighttime routine. Read on for tips on how to fall asleep in five easy steps.
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Lay off the caffeine
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been kept up all night because I had that afternoon cup of coffee. Do yourself a favor and only drink caffeine early in the morning. It will be tough to get through the afternoon slump without it, but in the long-term your body will thank you. Instead, opt for a soothing cup of chamomile tea before bed.
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Take a nice hot bath or shower
When I get home from work, the first thing I like to do is take a steamy shower with my favorite body wash. It smells delicious and helps me unwind to forget about the stresses of the day. To really set the mood for relaxation, I like to play the “Spa Radio” station on Pandora. I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but it really makes me feel like I’m in a spa. Trust me on this one.
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Make your bed incredibly comfy
Each person’s definition of a comfortable bed is different. My idea of a comfy bed is super warm and soft. So I invested in a memory foam pillow and mattress pad. In the winter, I put a heated mattress pad on my bed and sleep under a shearling lined comforter to keep myself extra warm.
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Set the mood
For me to fall asleep, I like the atmosphere to be just so. I try to cut down on clutter before getting in the bed. If there are clothes lying around, put them in the hamper. Remove and odds and ends that aren’t in their proper place. Having a clean room makes a world of difference. Once I’m done straightening up, I spray my pillow with a lavender sleep spray and turn on some background noise.
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Listen to some tunes
Since I was a teen, I’ve been listening to the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas to help me fall asleep. It’s like bedtime stories for grown ups. Lately, I’ve been listening to the Sleep With Me podcast to fall asleep as well. It’s basically a podcast to lull you to sleep through boredom– it’s surprisingly effective. When I’m having a really tough time falling asleep, I put the song “Moon River” on repeat. You may recognize this song as the song that played during the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “Moon River” makes me fall asleep instantly, I’m not sure why– science, I guess!
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful. Do you ever find it hard to fall asleep? Do you have any tricks to beat insomnia? Let me know in the comments! Also, feel free to shop the post. I included all of the links to the products I mentioned!
