For something we spend half our life
doing, a lot of us are pretty awful at sleeping. Here are our top ten
tips for falling asleep faster, getting quality rest, and waking up
easier in the morning.�
10. Prepare a Worthy Bed
While
your bed probably isn't the primary cause of insomnia, snoring, or
other sleep problems, it can certainly contribute to your comfort at
night. Make sure you're�using the right pillow based on your sleep type,
and when it comes time to buy a new mattress,�make sure you shop
smart�(and don't get fleeced). Once you know it isn't your bed, you can
start getting to the bottom of your sleep issues.�Photo by�Daehyun Park.9. Eat Better
What
you eat can greatly affect how you sleep, even during the early half of
the day.�Eat breakfast first thing in the morning�to sleep better at
night, and�make sure it's a big one. After�eating well throughout the day,�avoid
eating spicy or junk foods�at night, and instead�choose something that
will help you drift off. And remember: no booze! Not only�will it not
help you get to sleep, it'll�cause you to snore all night, too.�Photo by�D Sharon Pruitt.8. Wake Up Pleasantly, Not Roughly
The days of the ever-annoying�*bzzt*-*bzzt*-*bzzt*�alarms
are over. Instead of being jerked awake by an old clock, consider
getting a smart alarm app for your phone, like�our favorites for
iPhone�and�Android. Then, try�waking yourself up more comfortably. If
you need a bit more of a push, of course, we've got�more methods for
manipulating yourself to wake up. And, whenever possible,�do it without
stimulants�caffeine can wreak havoc with your brain and body.�Photo by�Lars Plougmann.7. Exercise in the Morning
Exercising
in the morning or afternoon�not at night�can help deepen your sleep and
make sure you fall asleep quicker,�according to a study by the National
Sleep Foundation. If you aren't much of an exerciser, there's no better
time than now to�upgrade your health and fitness routine�than now.�Photo by�lu-lu.6. Fix Your Sleeping Position
You
may not realize it over the course of the night, but your sleeping
position could not be great for your body�or the quality of shuteye you
get.�Find out which sleeping style is best for you, and make a conscious
effort to fix it when you go to bed, and you'll wake up feeling more
refreshed in the morning.5. Cool Yourself Off at Night
Cooling
down your body temperature makes a huge difference in how easy it is to
fall asleep, but that can be hard to do when it's hot outside (or when
your significant other has body temperature nearing the surface of the
sun). From DIY air conditioners to cooling pillows to more extreme
methods,�we've got the lowdown on staying cool while you sleep. Just
make sure you don't wake up freezing in the morning�that's never a fun
way to start the day.�Photo by�Rob.4. Get the Perfect Amount of Sleep
Not
everyone needs the same exact amount of sleep, but with a little trial
and error, you should find your sweet spot pretty easily.�Count back 7.5
hours from when you need to wake up, and make sure you get to bed at
that time�then adjust accordingly. Of course, you could also�try a
webapp like Sleepyti.me�to help you calculate the perfect number of
hours, too.3. Learn to Nap Like a Pro
If
you feel yourself getting drowsy during the day, you might be tempted
to nap�but that can be disastrous for your sleep schedule if done
incorrectly.Learn to master the power nap, then�calculate the best time
to nap�and crank one out then (if you have a hammock, all the better).
And, if you really want to�make the most of your naps,�try a caffeine nap�to reboot your brain in the middle of the day.�Photo by�Dion Hinchcliffe.2. Cultivate the Perfect Evening Routine
As
the end of the day rolls around, you should be winding yourself down
for bed to get the best sleep possible. If you really want to fall
asleep easily, take some time to�cultivate the perfect evening
routine�some light reading, a nice bubble bath, andsomething that
doesn't involve a backlit screen�to fall asleep quickly and keep your
energy up the next day.�Photo by�Chelsea Oakes.1. Get Some Help From Technology
If
your sleep cycle seems beyond repair, you might need to get some
outside help...from our favorite therapist, technology. From cheap
methods like sleep tracking apps to full-on sleep tracking gadgets like
the�Wakemate, we've�tested a number of technological sleep aids and
found them to be rather helpful. If you're really motivated, you
can�reboot your entire sleep cycle and get the rest you deserve, and
your midday self will thank you for it.
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