Getting a good night sleep can be hard sometimes when there is lots on your mind or you just can’t get comfortable in bed. Sometimes I have had days where I have woken up from an 8 hour sleep and felt exhausted. Getting a good nights sleep is all about the quality of sleep more than how many hours you get and everyones optimum sleep is different.
There are a few things I like to do before sleep to help me clear my mind, switch off and get ready for a good nights sleep. Hopefully this will help you get a good nights sleep too.
Having a Shower in the Evening
I love having a shower or bath in the evening, I find it helps relax and de-stress me after a long hard day at work. If I have had quite a stressful day I will use a lavender shower gel to really help calm me down and start to de-stress. Just before getting into the shower or Bath I will also pop on the heating so it’s nice and toasty in our flat when I get out. The worst thing is getting out of a shower into a cold room. I love taking hot showers so I can get lovely a warm and then pop my cosy PJ’s on once I am out of the shower.
Get your Clothes out for the Next Day
If you wake up early in the morning then this is a great time saver for you. Its really easy just to spend a few minutes grabbing an outfit from your wardrobe and then putting it on a chair or chest ready for tomorrow morning. Even if you don’t have to wake up early it’s nice knowing that your outfit is sorted for the next day and also makes getting ready in the morning a bit quicker, which I love.
Set Aside 1 hour Before Going to Sleep
I tend to be in bed by 9:30 and asleep at the latest at 10:30, that way I can wake up at 7am ready for the day ahead. It’s good to set aside about 1 hour before you go to sleep to give you time to switch off and really relax. There is no point trying to go to bed with loads of thoughts racing around your head as you won’t be able to sleep. In this hour you might want to watch something on the TV or read your favourite book. Do something that you don’t really need to concentrate on and you can just switch off whilst doing it.
Putting your phone on Silent
Putting your phone on silent and turning off all social media notifications is really important. If my phone makes a noise, from a notification, I always want to see what it is so putting my phone on silent stops all of that. Try and put your phone on silent at least 30 mins before you go to bed and don’t touch it until the morning. Some phones allow you to set a sleep time allowing notifications to come through but not disturb you. I find its really nice not to have to worry about checking my social media account when i’m in bed, you need a break from it.
Make a to-do List for the Next Day
If you already have things you know you need to get done tomorrow then make a to-do list, this will help you clear your head and make sure you don’t forget what you need to do. I like keeping a pad a paper by my bed so if I need to write anything down just before bed then I can. Making a to-do list really help me stop worrying about what I need to do tomorrow and makes me feel more relaxed. I always find when I am lying in bed things I need to do will come to me so keeping a pad of paper and a pen by my bed means I can quickly write them down, and stop worrying about them.
Reading
I use to always read a book before going to bed as I loved reading and it made me really sleepy. I have recently gotten back into reading and much prefer it to watching something on my laptop before bed. I find watching TV or a movie before bed can make me feel more awake, which apparently is due to the light being let off by our screens. If you don’t like reading a book then why not read a magazine, sometime it’s nice to have a book or magazine you can read bits of but not have a commit to reading the whole thing.
Using a Pillow Spray
A lot of people I know swear by using a pillow sprays before falling asleep, I have used one a couple of times and have to say it really works. Everyone raves about the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray by This Works, which has been formulated with Lavender, Vetivert and Camomile, to allow you to get the best possible nights sleep. I love how good this product makes me feel and the Lavender really helps calm down and completely relax after a long day.
If you find it hard falling asleep at night or getting a restful nights sleep then maybe try some of the things mentioned today and see if it helps. I also find its good to have a evening routine so you body knows its bedtime so try and set a time your in bed by. Everyone has their own ways of relaxing and unwinding in the evening and these are mine. I would love to know how you get ready for for a good nights sleep.
Hope you enjoy x
Steph
I actually do all of this except taking a shower before going to sleep and using a pillow spray, although i want to start doing that aswell! These things really do help in winding me down and getting me ready for bed mentally! Such a great post girl! xx
Author
Thank you. I literally swear by all these things, and there is no point worrying about stuff at night so you might as well get the nest nights sleep you can by getting stuff done the night before x
What a lovely read
Author
Thank you x
Hi, great tips, for me taking a shower of bath helps and getting my lunch and clothes ready for the next day to get a few extra minutes sleep.
Author
Thank you, yeah I agree I would rather get ready the night before and have less to worry about the following day x
Some great tips – will definitely have to try a few out like trying a pillow spray sometime! I always sort out my clothes the night before, I find it so much easier then stressing in the morning about trying to find something to wear! I also love getting a cup of warm milk and reading a book, this tends to help me get to sleep majority of the time if I’m having problems!
Amy,
https://creativenails.uk
Author
Thank you. Yeah organising the night before really helps me x
I’m a big believer in having everything ready for the next day really aids a good nights sleep! Otherwise you just toss and turn worrying about what you should be doing instead of sleeping haha. I really need to start reading before bed as it’s so calming and helps majorly with switching off!
Alice Xx
http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk
Author
I completely agree with you x
I can deffo agree with the pillow spray – I have the same one, and the roll on for your pressure points, and I swear by making lists for everything, it helps keep my anxiety at bay and my mind from running.
Great post hun!
Love Lily xo
Author
Thanks Lovely! It’s amazing how much of a different the pillow spray makes x
I may have to try the pillow spray! And preparing my clothes and my kids’ clothes the night before instead of scrambling for it all the next morning lol
Author
Getting everything ready for the following day is something so quick and simple to do but it’s amazing how much difference it make the next day x