The New Year is approaching, and brings with it the hope of starting fresh as well as setting new goals and resolutions. However, the excitement of a new year can also bring sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Let’s explore how to avoid a sleepy new year!
Tips to Improve Your Sleep for the New Year
If you have decided to add better sleep to your list of goals this year, we have some tips to help you make it happen.
Tip #1 – Create a Bedtime Routine
A strict, relaxing night time routine can help your brain recognize that it’s time to sleep, and can help you fall asleep faster when you’re in bed.
Bedtime Routine Ideas
- Start with a cup of relaxing caffeine-free tea like chamomile or lavender
- Take a warm bath or shower with magnesium salts to calm your muscles
- Read a couple of chapters in a book
- Spend time petting your dog or cat in bed
Following a routine each night can help you relax from a busy day and help your body get into sleep mode more quickly.
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Tip #2 – Avoid Electronics and Screens Before Bed
Using technology before bed can inhibit sleep because devices like phones, tablets and computers emit a harmful blue light that can actually keep us awake.
Scrolling through social media or watching TV until you feel sleepy can disrupt your body’s secretion of a natural sleep hormone called melatonin, which can cause a night of restless sleeping.
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Tip #3 – Cut Out the Caffeine
Even a mid-morning coffee can leave trace amounts of caffeine in the body that can disturb your sleep. If you are having trouble falling or staying asleep, start to cut out the caffeine in your diet.
You may find that you don’t actually need it because you’ll be sleeping better and therefore feeling more awake and alert throughout the day!
Tip #4 – Exercise Regularly
Chances are, exercising is already a part of your New Year’s resolutions! Exercise serves a dual purpose: it keeps your body healthy and also helps you sleep better.
Just try not to exercise too close to bedtime. Exerting energy through regular exercise can help you feel more tired at the end of the day, which can help you fall asleep faster.
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If you have New Year’s resolutions, consider adding better sleep to the list. Your body will thank you!
We Can Help You Get Better Sleep
If you’ve tried everything, and you still have trouble falling and staying asleep, take our Sleep Quiz.