Your Guide To A Good Night's Sleep

There are a myriad of reasons you might be struggling to sleep well. Stress, relationship troubles, muscle pains, illness, the list goes on! There are, however, good habits you can get into to encourage better sleep.

There’s a reason coffee is most commonly included in a morning routine. Caffeine keeps us awake, so avoiding coffee, tea and chocolate (we’re sorry to tell you, yes, chocolate contains traces of caffeine) for up to six hours before bedtime will help ease you into rest.

Our bodies are pretty good at letting us know when something is up, particularly if we’re feeling sleepy, so make sure you listen to it! It can be frustrating to find yourself wide awake when it’s your typical bedtime, and the frustration of tossing and turning could actually be keeping you awake. If you’re not tired at bedtime, try reading for 30 minutes or meditating to help your body unwind and induce that sleepy feeling. 

If your stomach is signalling that it's hungry, or even signalling that you’re much too full, it’s not a good time to try and fall asleep. You should allow your body at least two hours to digest your last meal before bedtime, but don’t skip out on dinner either! Being too hungry to sleep is also a thing, and it’s incredibly uncomfortable. Find a balance between your last meal and when you aim to go to bed, a happy digestive system will lead to a better chance of getting a good night's rest.

It’s no secret that exercise makes your body tired, and regular physical activity has been proven to generate better, deeper sleep. Start exercising daily, even if it’s low impact like walking.

Keep in mind, that exercising too close to bed can have the opposite effect, once the endorphins kick in you’re going to feel alert for longer which will hinder your chances of getting a good sleep.