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8 Tips to help you fall asleep

Falling asleep can become a challenge especially if we have a lot on our plate. Our mind doesn’t want to shut down and we’re left tossing and turning. Often times I just stop dealing with it and will get up and get some things done around the house or get ahead on work while the kids are sleeping. Then there are the nights where I’m super tired and can’t make myself get up and get anything done but I’m still struggling to fall asleep. Thankfully, there are ways to help with the issue of not being able to fall asleep at all or falling asleep slowly. Here are my 8 tips to help you fall asleep. 

8 Tips to help you fall asleep

Essential Oils – There are a few essential oils that truly help relax you but not in a chemical way. It basically triggers your body to calm down which in turn helps your mind stop racing, allowing you to fall asleep. One of my favorite oils for this is cedarwood. Once you place a dab behind your ear, it takes 22 minutes for that oil to touch every cell in your body. How’s that for fast acting?

Exercising – Often times if your body still has plenty of energy to burn, it won’t be ready for bed, even if your mind is tired from thinking too much for the day. This happens a lot to me. I get stuck behind a desk and my brain is tired but my body isn’t. Get some exercise or some kind of movement in for the day and sleep time may be easier.

No caffeine or sugar – Cut yourself off after a certain point in the day. For example, after 5 PM, don’t ingest any sugar or caffeine because this can course through your body and make sleep difficult even if bedtime isn’t until 10 PM.

Don’t eat too late – Similar to the sugar and caffeine, food is meant as fuel for our bodies to burn in order to have energy. If you eat too late, your body will still be trying to work by the time you hit the sack. Set a normal time to have dinner and stay away from food after that so your body can begin its shutdown routine.

Keep a nightly routine – Oddly enough, our body gets used to a routine and if we have a set routine that we do every night, this often times will trigger our mind and body that it’s time for bed.

Set a time – Set a bedtime and a wake up time. Even if it’s your day off, try to stick to the same routine of when you go to bed and when you wake up. Your body will grow accustomed to this which will not only make going to sleep a lot easier but it will also make waking up a lot easier too.

Focus on nothing – One of my biggest issues is that I think about everything I have to do the next day, etc. and it causes me to lay awake for hours. Try making yourself stop thinking and focus on nothing. Close your eyes and think of an empty room or a big open field, something that will relax you and doesn’t have anything specific to focus on. This causes your mind to stop racing on all the other things and focuses it on one simple object which will allow it to let you fall asleep.

Medication – I hate to say it but sometimes we just need a little help and that’s what your doctor is for. Melatonin is an over the counter herb that helps but it should be taken carefully. There are plenty of other over the counter medications or even prescribed ones but I would use these as an absolute resort.

8 Tips to help you fall asleep

20 Comments

  • Terri
    September 20, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    I’ve been meaning to get an infuser for relaxation purposes. I’m ashamed to admit that I would fall asleep watching tv. Now that my remote is broken I haven’t really turned the tv on so I’ve been sleeping much better

    Reply
  • Kenya G. Johnson
    September 20, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    I have a terrible time falling asleep when I’m not at home. When we go to the in-laws for Christmas, I plead with my doc for a prescription of Ambien. They give me 10 of them. I only use them if it’s critical. Other times at home I have used Melatonin. There’s one you can buy OTC and you put it under one tongue. It probably pyschological but I always feel like I’ve fallen asleep before it has dissolved. On a regular bases I read or play a game on my phone until I get sleepy. Focusing on nothing is hard.

    Reply
  • Robin Masshole Mommy
    September 21, 2016 at 11:50 am

    I really struggle with this. I have trouble getting comfortable. Melatonin really changed my life, though.

    Reply
  • Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
    September 21, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    I really needed this post. There are some nights when I can’t fall asleep to save my life. Hopefully, these tips will help!

    Reply
  • Kristi
    September 21, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Some great suggestions. Have been struggling lately. I fall asleep really well… then up wide awake at 4am. I am going to go over everything in your list and see if anything might help.

    Reply
  • Pam Wattenbarger
    September 21, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    It can be hard for me to fall asleep sometimes. I definitely have to be mindful of my caffeine intake.

    Reply
  • Brandy
    September 21, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    These are all really great tips! I always find that the Lavender Essential Oils helps me fall asleep.

    Reply
  • Meagan
    September 21, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    These are some great tips. I am a big fan of a good routine.

    Reply
  • Amanda Love
    September 21, 2016 at 11:41 pm

    As a mom, we barely get enough sleep to last us throughout a busy day filled with work, errands, and chores. It would be awesome to help yourself relax and just give yourself more time to sleep. I love these tips! They’re really great!

    Reply
  • Liz Mays
    September 22, 2016 at 12:51 am

    These are really helpful ideas. All it take is one bad decision and my sleep schedule gets messed up!

    Reply
  • Jocelyn Cañasa Brown
    September 22, 2016 at 3:59 am

    These are all really great tips! I always have had trouble falling alseep! Maybe these tips will help!

    Reply
  • Rachel Ferrucci
    September 22, 2016 at 4:23 am

    Great tips. many I don’t do and should but mainly my mind races every night so i may need to start taking something to help

    Reply
  • Nicole Escat
    September 22, 2016 at 9:23 am

    Haha, I can’t live without coffee. It keeps me awake and helps me think better!

    Reply
  • Nikki Wayne
    September 22, 2016 at 9:25 am

    I like to buy an infuser and I do believe that it will really improve my sleeping habits. This is a nice post.

    Reply
  • Jeanine
    September 22, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    This has been a huge issue for me the past oh 5 days. My newborn, well 1.5 month old has started sleeping through the night and here I am fiddling around at 12/1a still trying to unwind from the day and sleep. I am then up at 6a and completely feeling like a zombie. I will be trying these tips for sure!

    Reply
  • Marcie W.
    September 22, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    I am a rare breed that is blessed enough to rarely have sleep issues, but my husband suffers from frequent insomnia. I plan to share these tips with him so he can hopefully rest a bit easier soon.

    Reply
  • Brianne
    September 22, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    These are such great tips. I love using essential oils, but I will definitely have to try out the rest!

    Reply
  • Ann Bacciaglia
    September 22, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    I have been having a hard time falling asleep lately. I love using essential oils to relax. I will have to try these tips this week.

    Reply
  • Bren Pace
    September 23, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    Hi Kita,

    I keep hearing a lot about these essential oils for many things. I might have to hunker down and give it a shot. It takes me forever to fall asleep. Ugh….

    Happy Friday!

    Reply
  • Tracey
    September 24, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    These are awesome tips for sleeping. I find melatonin and an essential oil diffuser really help.

    Reply

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