There are many ways to unwind before bed, and taking the time to do so can help you sleep better. Doing some gentle stretching, taking a warm bath, and reading or listening to music are just a few ideas that you may want to try making a part of your nightly routine.
Consider taking a warm bath at least an hour before you go to sleep. Your body will heat up from the water, and cool down quickly as the water evaporates, creating a sensation that makes you feel tired and relaxed.
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers).
Tryptophan triggers the brain's sleep process: Tryptophan is an amino acid known to promote sleep. View Source within the brain. Turkey contains high levels of tryptophan, so it is famously blamed for sleepiness after Thanksgiving dinner. Other foods with tryptophan include milk, bananas, oats, and chocolate.
Don't Go to Bed Hungry
Going to bed without a last meal means your body has less energy to rejuvenate and repair itself. Plus, with less energy, the body holds onto existing fat for energy, making it harder to lose weight and easier for weight gain to occur.
The brain needs to be in a relaxed state in order to get the right amount of sleep. This can be done by soothing your brain before bedtime. This can be reading a book, listening to some relaxing music, or taking a warm bath. It is important to keep your mind on a positive note when you are about to go to bed.
The best nighttime routine allows your mind and body time to slow down before you turn off the lights. Allot at least 30 minutes to take a bath, read a book, listen to a podcast, or play quiet music. These “transition rituals” can condition your brain to associate certain actions with preparing for sleep.
There are many ways to unwind before bed, and taking the time to do so can help you sleep better. Doing some gentle stretching, taking a warm bath, and reading or listening to music are just a few ideas that you may want to try making a part of your nightly routine.
They read. Experts agree that reading is the very last thing most successful people do before going to sleep —President Barack Obama and Bill Gates are known to read for at least a half hour before bed. Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "You Can't Be Serious!
Some water before bed helps your body stay hydrated at night. However, too much water before bed can interrupt your sleep cycle and lead to a chronic lack of sleep. That, in turn, can increase your risk of obesity and hinder weight loss. Low drinkers of water will want to up their intake during the day instead.
Peanut butter has many nutritional benefits. Eating a small amount of peanut butter as part of a healthy snack before bed may help improve sleep quality and prevent overeating and weight gain the following day. Peanut butter is a nutrient-dense, high-calorie food containing vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber.
Tryptophan and melatonin
Your two best friends for a restful night. Milk (and other dairy products) are a really good source of tryptophan. It's an amino acid that can help promote sleep, so it can come in particularly handy especially if you're used to tossing and turning before finally getting off to sleep.
Snacks for Sleepiness
Certain nutrients and hormones help promote sleep. Tryptophan, found in turkey and fish, promotes serotonin production. Melatonin (found in dairy and cherries) makes you sleepy, potassium (found in bananas) and magnesium (also found in bananas and almonds) help promote muscle relaxation.
While sleeping with socks has its benefits, that doesn't mean that it's bad to sleep barefoot. Sleeping sockless won't negatively impact your health, but as discussed above, if you have insomnia, Raynaud's syndrome or menopausal night sweats, wearing socks could help alleviate some of your symptoms.
Eggs and fish are higher melatonin-containing food groups in animal foods, whereas in plant foods, nuts are with the highest content of melatonin. Some kinds of mushrooms, cereals and germinated legumes or seeds are also good dietary sources of melatonin.
Golden Rules of Sleep.
1. Get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Identify the amount of sleep you need to be fully alert all day long and get that amount every night. It will dramatically change your mood and your ability to think critically and creatively.
Close your mouth and quietly inhale through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound for a count of eight. Repeat the process three more times for a total of four breath cycles.
The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique is a psychological approach to self-soothing, helping individuals navigate anxiety and prevent panic attacks. It asks you to acknowledge five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.