Helpful Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Now that we know that sleeping well can help us lose weight, it’s time to address things we can do to help us get a good night’s sleep. Most of us have experienced nights when we just couldn’t get to sleep or kept waking up in the middle of the night. While one night of not sleeping can be annoying, persistent insomnia can have negative consequences on our work, personal relationships, and health. If you just haven’t been able to get a good night’s sleep, here are some tips and tricks you can use to catch some zzz’s.

To get proper sleep at night, first watch what you eat. Here are some eating tips for you to sleep on.

Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. You may think you’re okay if you don’t drink caffeine before bedtime, but stimulants can stay in our bodies for up to six hours. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try not to drink caffeine after lunch time. That includes more than the obvious coffee but also sodas and some health drinks.
Don’t drink alcohol. A comforting glass of wine may put you to sleep right away, but you’re much more likely to wake up in the night and have a much less restful sleep.
Try some tryptophan. This is the chemical in turkey that makes us sleepy, the one we hear about around Thanksgiving time. It’s also found with most protein. Try eating a little protein with some complex carbohydrates at night. You could also try a warm glass of milk, another good source of tryptophan.
Avoid a big dinner. A lot of food late at night provides you energy and actually helps wake you up. It can also cause painful indigestion that will keep you from sleeping. Try eating a moderate dinner and a small bedtime snack instead.

You can also get to sleep better if you adjust your sleeping and bedtime habits. Here are a few suggestions you can try.

Have a set sleeping schedule. Our bodies thrive on schedules and rhythms. Waking up and going to bed at a set time will help your body develop a normal sleeping rhythm.
Get darkness and light. Another way to help set your natural rhythms is to make your bedroom dark or wear a mask while you’re sleeping. Shortly after you wake up in the morning, expose yourself to the sun or other bright lights.
Start a bedtime ritual. Our bodies develop natural responses to what we do. If you follow a certain pattern before you go to sleep every night, your body will know it’s time for sleep when you do these things. This will help you fall asleep faster and easier.
Reserve your bedroom for sleeping only. You’re much less likely to be able to sleep well in a place where you work, read, or watch TV. If you sleep and only sleep in your bedroom, your mind won’t be occupied by other things.

If you’re feeling stressed and have a wandering mind at bedtime, try these techniques to calm yourself down.

Take a warm bath. This will soothe your muscles and help you relax. Just be sure your bath isn’t too hot; that can actually make you more awake.
Try deep breathing and visualization. These can not only help calm you and prepare you for rest, they can also clear your mind and push away stressful thoughts. There’s really something to be said for counting sheep!
Avoid stimulating activities. This includes not reading or watching TV before bed. Instead of relaxing and sleeping, you’ll end up thinking about what you saw or read.

If you find that none of these techniques work for you, you may also want to consider herbal remedies that will calm you and help you rest. If all else fails, you should pay a visit to your doctor to rule out any medical causes for poor sleep.