How often do you find yourself sacrificing sleep to complete everything on your to-do list? As busy women, we tend to do this a lot, and this eventually takes a toll on our minds and bodies. While it may seem necessary some days, in the long run, we are teaching our bodies that we can function without rest, which is not fitting.
Prioritizing your sleep hygiene and practicing actionable steps to get more rest every night is a great way to combat this.
Here are five habits to incorporate into your night routine that will have you catching more Zzzzs and lead to you hopefully feeling restored and balanced for whatever life throws at you each day.
Choose A Consistent Sleeping Time That You Can Stick with Daily
One of the best ways to train your body to prepare for sleep every day is to wind down around the same time every night. This solidifies that there is an end to your day and can help you schedule the things you have to do with this in mind, helping you to feel productive throughout the day and well-rested when you wake up.
Choose a time that makes sense for your and your lifestyle. Whether it's 8 pm or 12 am, you want this to be a time when you will be able to accomplish everything you want to, get a certain amount of hours in, and feel ready to relax into the night.
Use Aromatherapy As A Way to Unwind
If you struggle with falling asleep or feeling extremely restless at night, consider using aromatherapy to unwind before bedtime. The most common form of aromatherapy is essential oils. Consider investing in an oil diffuser and some scented oils like lavender.
As the fumes disperse through the air of your bedroom, you’ll immediately feel the tension and stress slowly release from your body.
Have No Screen Time One Hour Before Bed
We live in a world where we are constantly consuming content through the screens of our cellphones, TVs, iPads, and so many other devices. Many of us have fallen into the habit of scrolling on our phones before bed or having the TV on as background noise. How often has a 30-minute scroll turned into you being up at 3 am?
For this reason, having no screen time up to one hour before you want to fall asleep is one of our tips! It allows your eyes to relax and your brain not to be stimulated by what you see online.
If you use your devices for background noise, consider turning the brightness down and turning your back to the screen so you are solely focused on the audio and not straining your eyes before bed.
Pick Up A Book or A Pen to Journal
Reading a book or journaling is a great alternative to scrolling on your phone at night time. These “light” activities will wear you out eventually and help you transition into sleeping.
We know many women who would love to read more but don’t get a chance to due to time. Incorporating this into your night routine will allow you to finish a book or two in a month eventually! Journaling is also a great way to reflect on the day and your feelings as you prepare to enter a new one.
Create the Sleeping Environment of Your Dreams
Tailor your bedroom to your liking so it is an environment you ultimately feel comfortable sleeping in at night. From the lighting fixtures to the blanket you use and the sheets you are sleeping on, it all matters! Focusing on the small details makes you feel secure and contributes to the peace and relaxation you need for a good night of rest.
