Top 5 Friday: Top Five Tips For Getting More Sleep

Top 5 Friday: Top Five Tips For Getting More Sleep

TGIF!!!!

I don't know about you guys but I'm so glad the weekend is here! I can't wait to do a little bit of purging the house and a whole lot of relaxing.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on fitness and nutrition and how sleep affects your overall health. What I discovered is that it matters a whole heck of a lot! I knew sleep was important but I didn't realize how much it affects your body from your hormones to your metabolism and everything in between.

Also, I am the biggest night owl you'll ever meet!  Since I started learning more about the importance of sleep I've been aggressively trying to change my habits. By no means am I perfect but I'm doing a lot better and for Top 5 Friday I'm sharing the 5 tips that have helped me the most.

Oh and I'm not sure why I used pictures of the beach but they make me happy and I don't have any sleep related pictures in my camera roll :)

1. Exercise

First off, I think exercise is one of the most important things for helping me sleep better and making me want to go to sleep. I'm sure there's lots of science behind it but if I workout I'm usually ready for bed early and I sleep better.

2. Create a zen hour before bed

I've discovered I love this part of the process because it can be tailored to suit. I personally have found a lot of peace from trying to put my screens away 30 minutes to an hour before bed. I've been turning down the lights, maybe lighting a candle and having some decaf hot tea and a piece of dark chocolate. If watching a Netflix show is your thing, go for it, I know I do sometimes! Just make sure you're able to turn it off when it's bed time.

3. Do not use your phone for an alarm clock OR turn all of your notifications off 

I haven't bought a separate alarm clock yet but I have it on my to-do list! But, all of my notifications are off on my phone and unless I get a random text or emergency alert my phone stays off.

4. Turn down the AC

This is not my favorite thing to do because I hate being cold but I have to confess that I'm ready to jump under the covers earlier if it's a little chilly in the house. I usually sleep better too!

5. Slowly push up your bedtime

This tip has been the most helpful for this night owl. No change is fun to make cold turkey so if you push your bedtime up a little more each night until you get it where you want it, it will make the shift much easier.

BONUS: Go to bed and get up at the same time each day, at least weekdays. But try not to deviate too much on the weekends. This allows for a good bedtime but also a good morning routine which is equally important in my book.

My goal is to get 8-9 hours of sleep per night. I haven't been able to get to 9 consistently yet, but I've come close to 8 most nights lately. Baby steps, right?!?!

Cheers and Happy Friday!