Ways to Fall Asleep Easier
fall asleep easier
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Not getting enough sleep due to insomnia wreaks havoc on your health. Not only that, it can lack of sleep leads to trouble concentrating which puts you at risk of having some type of accident and, it can lead to memory loss.
When you have insomnia – (especially chronic insomnia) you need to do whatever you can to treat. This means doing everything you can to improve sleeping well at night. To help you fall asleep easier and stay asleep there is plenty of options available – ranging from gentle and natural blankets to traditional methods for sleep.
1. White Noise Machine to Help You Fall Asleep Easier
Buy on AmazonBlock out the background noise you might hear such as the refrigerator heating or air conditioning kick on. This includes pets who lick and lap at night. If you have pets, they can keep you awake at night with the pitter patter of their feet or just doing what pets do.
Any of these noises can prevent you from sleep or wake you as you begin to nod off. There your insomnia starts and you lay there awake and worrying all night. But a white noise machine helps drown out the sounds that helps you to fall asleep faster and then stay asleep.
How Do White Noise Machines Work
White noise consists of sounds, too – but the sounds each occur at different frequencies. When you use a white noise machine, you don’t hear the actual sounds. However, the frequencies help to cover up noises that often prevent you from falling asleep.
A white noise machine is not only recommended for people with insomnia. But it’s often recommended for people with medical condition, like tinnitus, which keeps them from falling asleep.
There are white noise sleep machines that have a regular white noise. And other allow you to have custom sounds such as rain, wind chimes in a breeze, a ticking clock or sound of a quiet hair dryer.
These machines are great for people who work odd hours or have jobs that require them to work third shift.
2. Melatonin to Improve Sleep
Insomnia is life changing and not in a good way. This leaves people looking for ways to fall asleep easier. This may include opting for prescription medications to help them get to sleep. While other people prefer more natural options that won’t have lingering side effects.
One of these natural sleep treatments is melatonin. It’s a hormone that’s naturally produced in a tiny gland called the pineal gland. And it works like a natural alarm clock.
This hormone helps to regulate your sleep and wake times. And when it’s working properly, it prepares your body for sleep.
What Does Melatonin It Do?
In a nutshell, the first thing melatonin does is to lower your body temperature a little to make you feel tired. When your body temperature drops, your body and brain, begins to shift from awake to sleep mode.
As we age our body produces less melatonin. So if you’re having trouble falling to sleep mid life it may be due to lack of melatonin.
3. Aromatherapy to Treat Sleeplessness
Buy on AmazonWhen you’re tossing and turning in bed, it can cause you to feel a sense of frustration at the thought of losing even more sleep because of your insomnia. There is something that’s easy and inexpensive to help relieve insomnia – aromatherapy.
Lavender is well known for producing a calming and drowsy effect which is helpful to break the cycle of insomnia
In addition lavender essential oil can help treat of anxiety and stress. Besides the essential oil form, lavender is available in bath soaps, lotions, and in tea. And the oil can be used when diluting with water. Or you can place a few drop in a diffuser which is especially helpful if you place them in your bedroom to release fragrance into the air about twenty minutes before you go to sleep.
4. A Temperature Control Pillow Helps Hot Sleepers
Buy on AmazonWhen falling asleep by nature our body temperature should lower. But as we age we go through many changes that often leads to broken sleep and insomnia. When our body is not producing enough melatonin out body may have poor temperature control. This may be linked to medical conditions that impact your adrenals glands, thyroid, and your autonomic system.
Whatever the reason for poor temperature regulation being too hot or too cold can disrupt your sleep pattern. One such way cool your body for hot sleepers it to use a temperature cooling pillow for sleep.
This can lead to insomnia. Thankfully, however, there are some things that you can do to help fix this. You can get a temperature control pillow. Reducing your temperature will make you feel drowsy enough to fall asleep.
A temperature control pillow aka cooling pillow help by lowering the temperature within the pillow. Many cool pillows contain gel as well many are hyper-allergenic and machine washable.
5. Reduce Stress
Besides a lack of melatonin, another top reason for insomnia is stress. Stress creates feelings of anxiety, fear and anger. And it can leave you worrying about what’s going to happen when you get up the next day. One way to get the worries out of your head so you can sleep easier is to write a to do list. This will help you from laying awake wondering if you’ll remember all that you ‘need’ to do.
6. Take Care of Pain
If you suffer with aches and pains there is a chance that your sleep will suffer. Either your pain keeps you awake or it wakes you up at some time making it difficult to get back to sleep. Use knee pillows to help with back pain, sciatica and knee or leg pain. Make use of heat and cold packs to ease discomfort.
If you struggle to find natural pain relief, then talk to your health practitioner to manage your pain.
7. Weighted Blankets to Ease Stress
Buy on AmazonAnti-stress blankets and wraps are not only cozy but they help to ease stress. Reducing stress and relaxing your body before heading to bed is a sure way to help you fall asleep easier. A comfort wrap is a simple terry cloth covered wrap with filling in it that you warm up.
You can usually warm these in the microwave. What most people do is to place the wrap at the back of their neck or across a shoulder, alternating sides about half an hour before bed.
The wrap helps relieve the tension and stress that’s within your body. These wraps are relatively inexpensive. You can usually find a good one for twenty dollars or less.
8. Fall Asleep Easier With a Foot Soak
Buy on AmazonAt the end of the day practise a little self care. One of the best ways to relax is with a foot soak. A few drop of lavender or a couple of teaspoons of baking soda is a great way to relax and detox. Our feet carry us through the day and they need some extra TLC. But did you know that our feet gather the dirt and grime of the day and we can detoxify through our feet.
Buy a simple foot bath or use a simple bowel. Before bed soak your feet in warm water while listening to some soothing music. Your feet and your body will thank you, as you fall asleep easier and faster.
Addition Tips to Fall Asleep Easier and Fast
9. Turn off Electronics Before Bedtime
Turning off electronics before bedtime is important because the blue light emitted from screens can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This can make it harder to fall asleep and can disrupt the quality of sleep. It’s a good idea to disconnect from screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime to give your brain a chance to relax and wind down.
10. Food to Avoid Before Bed
Eating heavy, spicy, or sugary foods close to bedtime can cause indigestion, heartburn, and other discomfort that can make it harder to fall asleep. It’s best to avoid these foods in the evening and opt for lighter, healthier options such as a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit.
11. Best Temperature for Sleep
The ideal temperature for sleep is between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit. A cool room can help the body release melatonin, making it easier to fall asleep. A room that is too warm can make it difficult to fall asleep and can disrupt sleep throughout the night.
12. Best Bedtime Drink
A warm glass of milk or a cup of chamomile tea are both excellent options for a bedtime drink. Both contain natural compounds that can promote relaxation and help to induce sleep.
13. Practice Writing to Fall Asleep Faster
Writing in a journal or making a to-do list before bed can help clear the mind and release any worries or concerns that may be keeping you awake.
This can make it easier to fall asleep and can help reduce anxiety.
See the journals on Amazon
14. Get Comfortable to Sleep
To get comfortable to sleep, it’s important to have a comfortable mattress and pillows that support your body and keep your spine in a neutral position. It’s also important to dress in comfortable, breathable clothing and to keep the room dark, quiet, and cool.
15. Aromatherapy for Sleep
Aromatherapy can be an effective way to promote relaxation and sleep. Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, and valerian root can be used in a diffuser or added to bathwater to create a calming atmosphere and help to promote sleep.
16. Read a Physical Book to Sleep Better
Reading a physical book before bed can be a great way to relax and unwind. A paper book versus a kindle type book will help relax the eyes so you can drift off to sleep. While reading before bedtime it’s important to avoid reading anything too stimulating or stressful. A fiction book with a soothing story can help to distract the mind and prepare it for sleep.
17. Write a List for The Next Day to Avoid Worry
Writing a list for the next day can be a great way to plan and organize your thoughts, but it can also be a source of stress and anxiety if it’s not done at the right time. It’s best to write your list in the morning or afternoon, so you can relax and unwind before bed without worrying about what needs to be done tomorrow.
18. Visualize Happy Things to Fall Asleep Easier
Visualizing happy things before sleep can help to relax the mind and release stress, which can make it easier to fall asleep. This can be anything from a happy memory, a future goal, a peaceful place, or even a positive statement.
19. Use Comfortable Cooling Sheets for Sleeping
Buy on AmazonComfortable cooling sheets starting around $26 on Amazon can help to regulate body temperature and promote a more restful sleep. They are made of breathable, moisture-wicking materials that keep you cool and dry throughout the night. Make your bedroom look beautiful and a place for restful sleep. Your little personal care haven.
20. Avoid Daytime Naps to Sleep at Night
Taking daytime naps can disrupt the normal sleep-wake cycle making it harder to fall asleep at night. It’s best to avoid napping during the day and to stick to a consistent sleep schedule to help falling asleep easier.
21. Incorporate Sleep Into Your Self Care Routine
Besides soaking in a bath, manicuring your toes and fingernails. Make sleep part of your self care routine. Decorate your bedroom in relaxing colors, declutter the space and make it a place you want to spend time in. You spend almost 30% of your life in bed, and you do so for a reason. Sleep is not about a pace to waste time, but a place to heal so you can do everything you enjoy in your life.
Take a few tips from the above and take steps to fall asleep easier and faster for a rich and full life.