Struggling to Sleep? Read This

I think we can all say that sleep is something we're not getting very much of right now. You might've just fallen out of your regular sleep schedule or simply can't fall asleep. I know you've heard this a lot but sleep is very important. Not only does it help you function through the day but without proper sleep each night, you can become sleep deprived (Side note: how many times will I write the word, "sleep" in this post?). Sleep deprivation can lead to a multitude of health issues, some of which can be life threatening. Some side effects are high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, and many heart issues that can lead to heart failure. What this blog boils down to is that it's not too hard to return to our regular sleeping habits and find ways to  "cure" our restlessness. By doing a little internet deep-dive, I've complied some quick and easy ways to have a full night's sleep and wake up refreshed and rejuvenated!

For the person who stares at their ceiling for hours on end. It's actually very helpful to get out of bed. This gets you to stop thinking about not being able to sleep but also lets you relax and calm your brain. Some things you can try are reading part of a book, drinking a cup of tea, or getting a glass of warm milk. By doing a small task for at least twenty minutes, it will help your brain slow down so that you can return to bed and fall asleep much easier.

A major change you can make is not using your phone before bed. It may seem just a tad bit impossible for some of you not to check your phone (believe me it's hard for me some nights) before bed and throughout the night but there are many positives that come with putting it down and you'll see changes almost immediately. Nightmares become less frequent, morning anxiety subsides greatly, you (could) read a lot more because you have more time to do things before bed instead of staring at your phone for hours, waking up in the middle of the night becomes less frequent because you've become accustomed to not grabbing your phone and falling back asleep quicker, and last but not least, your skin will actually get clearer with less phone use in the night. Win-win all around!

This may be a shock but reorganizing and rearranging your space can help you sleep better. By decluttering your room and rearranging old furniture to create a "new space" will refresh your perspective and allow you to truly relax in a room that is free of unnecessary things. One new thing you can add to your space is blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are a special set of curtains that blocks out any light so you can fall asleep faster and longer. Definitely a worthwhile investment

You can also make a change to your bedding. Thicker blankets help you fall asleep faster because they give you much more security than thinner blankets. Softer or memory foam pillows help take away the tensions in your neck and shoulders which then helps your back and hips relax. For someone who's had chronic back/neck/shoulder/hip pain their whole life, especially at night, the right kind of pillows help align your whole body for a better, relaxing night sleep.

Creating a nighttime routine helps unwind you in the hours leading up to bed and the hours you're going to be asleep. Starting about an hour or two before bed will give you plenty of time to shower, clean your face (clogged pours are not your friend), read a book, meditate, get used to no blue light, and whatever else you'd like to get done before you go to bed.  

That's all for now! However, I have a surprise for you all! Since some days can be slow, this week is going to be a double blog week! Tune in Thursday for some extra reading. I'm excited about this one because it's going to take us back into the kitchen. Any guesses what we're going to be making? Your hint is that it involves blending. 

See you Thursday!!
-Caroline:)

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