There is nothing better than crawling into your bed after a long, stressful day. You have been dreaming about your warm, cozy bed all day long and by the time your head hits the pillow, you are fast asleep before you know it. You sleep a blissful 8 hours and wake up well-rested and ready to take on the day. Wouldn’t that be nice? 

Good sleep is beneficial for many reasons: it boosts your mood, improves your health, and is all around beneficial for your alertness and productivity throughout the day. But let’s face it: we all struggle getting good sleep from time to time. Getting good sleep is not always easy—you can be extremely exhausted and still struggle to fall asleep at night. 

If this is something you are struggling with, it is important to prioritize your sleep, as it has a huge impact on your life! Here is a step by step guide to get the best sleep:

Go to Bed at the Same Time Every Night

If you find it difficult to get tired at night, both mentally and physically, create a strict sleeping schedule and go to bed at the same time every night. This will set your body’s internal clock to get tired around the same time and will trick you into feeling sleepy. Having a regular sleep schedule is important for good sleep in general, but it will also help you feel more refreshed and alert when you wake up in the morning.

Create a Cozy Sleep Environment

This means dim lighting, aromatherapy, and a comfortable bed. If you have a cozy room and a bed that you look forward to sleeping in every night, you are going to have better sleep. Limit the bright light in your room as you start to wind down at night and create a cozy environment with aromatherapy elements, like lavender and bergamot essential oils. 

Also, make sure you have a comfortable bed, mattress, and pillow, like a memory foam pillow. A memory foam pillow can help you get better sleep, as it molds to your shape and stays cool throughout the night.

Avoid Bright Screens in Bed

Avoid using your phone, computer, TV, or any source of bright light 1-2 hours before you go to bed. The blue light emitted from these devices interrupts your ability to get tired. The loud sounds from these devices is also interruptive and will keep your brain awake for longer than desired. 

Instead, read a book at night or listen to a relaxing podcast at a low volume. If you have to use your phone or computer right before bed, just make sure you wear blue light glasses to reduce the impact of the bright light on your eyes.

Do Not Eat Right Before Bed

Avoid eating big meals or drinking caffeine within 2 hours of going to bed. Eating a big meal late in the night can possibly upset your stomach and impact your ability to fall asleep. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake for up to 12 hours after drinking it. Stick to water right before bed, just do not drink too much of it, or else you will keep running to the bathroom all night.

Wind Down Before You Sleep

Unless you had a particularly exhausting day, it can be difficult to fall asleep as soon as you get into bed. Most of us will need to wind down somehow. That can be reading, listening to relaxing music, using a white noise machine, or taking a bath. We all have different methods of getting tired at night, but it is definitely a good idea to wind down somehow before you sleep.

Getting good sleep at night is something we should all prioritize. Sleep is extremely important for our health and well-being, and if you have a hard time getting tired at night, this step by step guide will help you get the best sleep in no time.