Falling asleep is one thing and waking up in the morning fully awake and energized another.
Here are our tips for a good night’s sleep or just a nap during the day:
ACADEMIC SLEEP
Use your brain until it is dead tired: Count down backwards from 100 or pick a word and create new ones by changing one letter at a time. For a real challenge, try picking a category and then coming up with a relevant word to fit that category from every letter of the alphabet, you will be tired in minutes by this brain exercise.
LEARN FROM TV
I learned something from the TV show The Mentalist: Count each of your breaths. For every inhale, count “1” in your head, and count “2” for every exhale and repeat. I do it when it’s a night that I realize I’m worried about something and I can’t sleep. I think by giving your brain an easy task, it can stop thinking hard about all of the other things going on.
MAKE A PLAY LIST
Create your “extremely chilled vibes playlist” called “Focus Pocus” on Spotify and listen to it while you are getting ready for bed.
NEW PLACES FOR NAPPING
Fall asleep somewhere else than your bed. Changes are always great even when they take place in your subconsciousness. A comfortable sofa, a garden chair under a tree on a mild summer night or even your car seat. Try it out you will get sleepy very quickly.
LEGS UP THE WALL
In addition to meditation, lying on your bed with your feet and legs flush up against the wall helps you drift off to dreamland. Just staying like that for five minutes should show improvement in calming down your brain. Works also perfectly when you cannot fall asleep because of jetlag.
STUDY YOUR SLEEP
Use apps available for Android and iOS that monitor your sleep and wake you up at the “right” time. The Android one is called “Sleep Like Android.” The more you know about your sleep, the better you will sleep. Coordinate your sports/active habits and also your eating times as well as your diet. What food makes you sleep and which ingredients keep you awake? The more you are sensitive towards your reactions, the better you will rest and be active at the times you wish.
REST IS THE GOAL, NOT SLEEP
Take away the pressure to fall asleep. Even if you cannot fall asleep at all, make sure that at least you get a good rest. Think of each part of your body how it refuels, your tired legs will relax, your feet will be grateful not to stand and just imagine you neck – heaven!
