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45 Tips — That You Haven’t Heard a Million Times Before — to Improve Your Sleep

A man in pajamas lies in bed, smiling contentedly while hugging a pillow with both arms, showing how simple habits can help you improve your sleep.

<p><&excl;-- BEGIN THEIA POST SLIDER --><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <br &sol;>&NewLine;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<div>&NewLine;<p>We all need sleep to maintain our physical and mental health and perform our best&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>So it’s unsurprising that there’s no shortage of content out there about how to improve your sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Unfortunately&comma; so much of it repeats the same things you’ve heard a million times before&colon; keep a consistent sleep&sol;wake schedule&comma; stop drinking caffeine later in the day&comma; keep your room cold and dark&comma; etc&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Those fundamentals matter — and if you’re not doing them yet&comma; they’re worth implementing&period; But if you’ve already got the basics down and are looking for some lesser-known strategies to enhance your sleep&comma; we’ve got you covered below&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>What follows are 45 fresher&comma; research-backed tips for improving your sleep&comma; drawn from <em><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;4icOvjJ">Trick Yourself to Sleep&colon; 222 Ways to Fall and Stay Asleep from the Science of Slumber<&sol;a><&sol;em> by Kim Jones&period; Chances are&comma; you’ll find at least a few that will help you fall asleep faster&comma; stay asleep longer&comma; and wake up feeling more rested&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;945m9n9jyo7"><u>Daytime Activities That Can Improve Sleep<&sol;u><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>While we typically think of what affects sleep largely in terms of what happens at night while in bed&comma; the foundation of good sleep is built during your waking hours&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;asflvqpwmrhp">1&period; Process Information and Emotions in the Light of Day<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>There’s plenty of evidence that stress is a major saboteur of sleep&period; When your head hits the pillow full of anxious thoughts&comma; drifting off can feel impossible&period; Additionally&comma; since sleep is the time the brain organizes the day’s information&comma; processes emotions&comma; and works through problems&comma; it stands to reason — though this is just a personal theory rather than a scientifically proven fact — that going to bed with a big backlog of unprocessed inputs forces the brain to work harder overnight&comma; leading to less restful slumber&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>To avoid this kind of evening overload&comma; get a jumpstart on your cognitive processing during the day&period; Don’t wait until your head’s on the pillow to start sorting things out&period; As you go about your day&comma; take short breaks — five minutes every hour or so — for daydreaming&comma; reflecting&comma; and journaling&period; Use these pauses to process emotions&comma; mull over dilemmas&comma; and defuse stress&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;ldjje0r0sxai">2&period; Meditate<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Another way to avoid an evening overload of sleep-disrupting stress is to meditate during the day&period; While we typically think of the mind-calming benefits of meditation in relation to our waking hours&comma; by preventing a build-up of anxiety&comma; the practice also makes it easier to wind down and sleep more soundly at night&period; Just 20 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve sleep quality in people with insomnia&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>3&period; Work by a Window<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Exposure to natural daylight helps calibrate your circadian rhythm and boosts mood-regulating neurotransmitters&comma; both of which support better sleep&period; If you’re stuck in an office all day&comma; even sitting near a window can make a difference — research shows that people who do sleep 46 minutes longer each night than those working in windowless spaces&period; If a window seat isn’t an option&comma; eat lunch outside or use breaks to get more sunlight exposure&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;pp59qs39t4ki">4&period; Move as Much as Possible Throughout the Day<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Physical activity is a well-known aid to sleep&comma; but is seriously underrated&period; The more you move&comma; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;the-importance-of-building-your-daily-sleep-pressure&sol;">the more &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;sleep pressure” builds up<&sol;a> — a drive&comma; fueled by the accumulation of adenosine&comma; that makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep at night&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Dedicated exercise is clutch here&comma; of course&comma; but even small bits of activity help build sleep pressure too&period; So rather than seeing physical activity as an all-or-nothing proposition&comma; look for ways to incorporate movement naturally throughout your day&colon; stand during phone calls&comma; take brief walking breaks every 30 minutes&comma; periodically do a quick set of squats while watching a movie&comma; etc&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;cd3e6p24yc2g">5&period; Exercise Outside When You Can<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research shows that outdoor exercise — even just 30 minutes of walking — helps people fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly than the same amount of indoor activity&period; Natural light exposure combined with fresh air and physical exertion creates a powerful sleep-promoting combination&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;ktb4sx3y2e6l">6&period; Challenge Your Brain<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>It’s not just physical exercise that builds sleep pressure&semi; mental exertion does as well&period; Fill your day with reading complex material&comma; learning new skills&comma; solving puzzles&comma; and having meaty conversations&comma; and you’ll sleep better at night&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;9lvvoduk2po6">7&period; Seek Novel Experiences<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>You can give your brain the kind of cognitive challenge that builds sleep pressure simply from encountering sheer novelty&period; When researchers in one study exposed participants to new and stimulating environments&comma; they fell asleep faster and enjoyed more deep sleep than on routine days&period; If you’ve ever visited a museum&comma; you’ve experienced this phenomenon firsthand&semi; you probably felt surprisingly fatigued&comma; and it wasn’t just from walking around — it was also from your brain taking in so many novel stimuli&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>You don’t have to visit a major attraction to score this effect&period; Even small changes help&colon; take a different route home from work&comma; explore a new neighborhood&comma; or visit an unfamiliar store&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;jjhfkefkuw0">8&period; Create Microtransitions Between Work and Home<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research has found that people who mentally carry work stress home sleep worse and wake more frequently&period; To prevent the grind from following you through the front door&comma; build in a &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;microtransition” — an intentional ritual that helps you shift out of work mode and into domestic life&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Hit the gym on the way home&comma; take a few minutes to meditate in the driveway&comma; or change clothes as soon as you walk inside your abode&period; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;career-wealth&sol;career&sol;the-power-of-the-third-space-how-to-set-yourself-up-for-success-for-the-next-thing-in-life&sol;">Check out this article&sol;podcast for more tips on creating an effective microtransition&period; <&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;8iq7uusefyqc">9&period; Prioritize In-Person Socializing<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Perhaps it’s because of the mental-fatigue-inducing cognitive processing involved in having conversations or simply all the feel-good neurochemicals that are released when we connect with others&comma; but face-to-face social interaction is associated with better sleep onset and maintenance&period; So meet up with friends and loved ones whenever you can to slumber more soundly&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;5t7klkza1djg">10&period; Stay On Top of Your To-Do List<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research shows that procrastinators are up to three times more likely to experience sleep problems&period; Leaving tasks unfinished creates cognitive loose ends that your brain continues processing during the night&comma; while completing even small tasks provides a sense of closure that allows your mind to rest easy&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;ht2h7e6mikud">11&period; Take a Sundown Stroll<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>You’ve probably heard that getting morning light regulates your circadian rhythm and improves sleep&period; But taking a walk when daylight is fading helps too&period; Researchers have discovered that an evening walk&comma; particularly at dusk&comma; significantly improves sleep quality in insomnia sufferers&period; Walking at sundown helps synchronize your body clock as natural light fades&comma; preparing your system for sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;hdqerp2ag6q7">12&period; Cultivate Purpose<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>According to research&comma; people with a strong sense of life purpose enjoy significantly better sleep quality&comma; perhaps because having this sense of direction reduces stress and boosts the kind of psychological resilience that carries over into slumber&period; To increase your sense of purpose&comma; spend time in reflection&comma; engage in activities that align with your values&comma; and set meaningful goals&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;tti0g2srynv5"><u>Nutrition and Eating Habits<&sol;u><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>What you eat — and when you eat it — can have a surprisingly strong effect on how well you sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;n3i18b68lbq8">13&period; Skip Spicy Foods in the Evening<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research shows that eating spicy foods close to bedtime can negatively affect sleep by raising core body temperature&comma; which interferes with the body’s natural cooling process needed for sleep onset&period; Capsaicin&comma; the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers&comma; triggers thermogenesis&comma; making it harder to fall asleep and leading to more nighttime awakenings&period; To avoid these effects&comma; it’s best to enjoy spicy meals earlier in the day&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;dfi4kmgowpeq">14&period; Limit Saturated Fats<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>High saturated fat consumption is associated with lighter&comma; less restorative sleep and more nighttime awakenings&period; Focus your diet on heart-healthy unsaturated fats from nuts&comma; seeds&comma; avocados&comma; and olive oil instead of the saturated fats found in processed foods and fried items&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;ftmmuejxvqxf">15&period; Implement a Dinner Curfew<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Eating too close to bedtime redirects blood flow to your digestive system rather than allowing your core temperature to drop for sleep&period; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;podcast-1036-when-to-eat-the-optimal-schedule-for-metabolic-health&sol;">Consider adopting time-restricted eating<&sol;a> — confining meals to a 10-hour window &lpar;such as 9 AM to 7 PM&rpar; — which studies show improves sleep quality and prevents middle-of-the-night digestive disturbances&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>16&period; Boost Your Fiber Intake<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research shows that people who consume low-fiber diets take longer to fall asleep and experience less deep sleep&period; Prebiotic fiber&comma; which is found in foods like garlic&comma; onions&comma; leeks&comma; and artichokes&comma; seems to be particularly beneficial&period; In one study&comma; subjects on a prebiotic-rich diet spent more time in restorative non-REM sleep and showed resilience to stress-related sleep disruption&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;mdizvvlj87u3">17&period; Eat Walnuts as an Evening Snack<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Walnuts naturally contain melatonin — the hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles — as well as magnesium and healthy fats&comma; which can aid in relaxation and overall sleep quality&period; A study found that eating walnuts increased circulating melatonin levels in the body&period; Eating a small handful of them a few hours before bedtime can help prepare your body for sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;wc1eandspa4m">18&period; Make Sure You’re Getting Adequate Potassium<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Potassium can improve sleep by reducing nighttime awakenings and helping muscles relax&period; This effect is especially notable in people with low dietary potassium intake&period; To boost your levels &lpar;though you don’t want to go too high with potassium&rpar;&comma; consume food sources with significant amounts of the mineral like sweet potatoes&comma; white beans&comma; bananas&comma; and avocados&comma; or take a supplement&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;mlztdcv5dp9w">19&period; Stay Hydrated<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Mild dehydration is a common cause of nighttime awakening&comma; whether from a dry throat or your body stirring to seek water&period; Maintain consistent hydration throughout the day&comma; tapering off in the evening to minimize bathroom trips&period; The right balance will keep you comfortable through the night without interruptions&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;9eckf6vt6za3"><u>Creating a Sleep-Friendly Environment<&sol;u><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>The state of your bedroom can go a long way in promoting a good night’s sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;7i4nsqhjx6me">20&period; Wash Your Sheets Weekly<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>According to the National Sleep Foundation&comma; 73&percnt; of people report sleeping more comfortably on clean sheets&period; Beyond the psychological comfort&comma; regular washing removes accumulated sweat&comma; oils&comma; skin cells&comma; and dust mites that can disrupt sleep&period; Once-a-week washing is the sweet spot for most sleepers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;x0825lq7msvt">21&period; Declutter Your Bedroom<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>One study found that people sleeping in cluttered rooms took longer to fall asleep and experienced worse sleep quality&period; Beyond the practical annoyance of navigating a messy space&comma; visual clutter stimulates your brain and can raise cortisol levels&period; Your bedroom should be a sanctuary&comma; not a reminder of unfinished business&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;1xtapw3eug25">22&period; Get a Bigger Bed<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>If you share a bed&comma; size matters&period; The average person moves 60-70 times per night&comma; providing plenty of opportunities to disrupt their partner&period; The Sleep Council recommends this test to see if your bed is sufficiently large&colon; lie side by side with your partner&comma; arms behind your heads and elbows out — if they touch&comma; your bed is too narrow&period; Get the largest bed that your budget and room size will allow&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;4d5qo6yv78tm">23&period; Sleep Scandinavian Style<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;could-sleeping-separately-improve-your-relationship&sol;">As Dr&period; Wendy <&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;could-sleeping-separately-improve-your-relationship&sol;">Troxel explained on the podcast&comma;<&sol;a> if sleeping in the same bed with your partner disrupts your sleep&comma; it’s perfectly fine&comma; and can actually be beneficial&comma; to get separate beds&period; But if you’d rather not physically part&comma; take a cue from Scandinavians and try using two single duvets instead of fighting over one shared covering&period; This approach eliminates the nightly tug-of-war and allows each person to select their preferred warmth level&comma; significantly reducing sleep disruptions from temperature differences and blanket stealing&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>If you’d like the top sheet &plus; comforter set up&comma; another option for separating bedding while staying physically close is to get two full or twin-size mattresses&sol;beds&comma; each with their own bedding set&comma; and put them close together&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;pewfnbl52c2i">24&period; Get an Air Filter<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research indicates that people living in high pollution areas are up to 60&percnt; more likely to sleep poorly&period; If outdoor air quality is a concern&comma; consider using an air purifier in your bedroom&period; Focus on HEPA filters that remove particulate matter and VOCs&comma; which have been most strongly linked to sleep disruption&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;japuyiattg75">25&period; Hide the Time<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;podcast-1055-sleep-like-a-caveman&sol;">When sleep expert <&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;podcast-1055-sleep-like-a-caveman&sol;">Dr&period; <&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;podcast-1055-sleep-like-a-caveman&sol;">Merijn Van De Laar came on the podcast<&sol;a>&comma; his number one tip for better sleep was not watching the time&comma; noting that &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We know from research that if you watch the time&comma; then it takes up to 20 minutes longer to fall asleep again&period;” Clock-watching during sleepless periods only increases stress about lost sleep and how you’ll function tomorrow&period; So keep your smartphone in another room&comma; take off your watch before bed&comma; and turn your clock away from view&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;s6jsrw60bbpf">26&period; Ditch Your Sleep Tracker<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>While it may seem counterintuitive&comma; ditching a sleep tracker can actually improve sleep — at least for some people&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Those with insomnia often get more rest than they think&comma; and seeing that confirmed by a tracker can ease anxiety and promote better sleep&period; But for others&comma; tracking creates more stress&comma; triggering what’s known as &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;orthosomnia” — a fixation on perfect sleep metrics that paradoxically worsens sleep quality&period; Trackers can also lead to a &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;nocebo” effect&comma; where you feel tired simply because the data told you that you should&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>If your tracker helps you build better habits&comma; great — but if it causes stress or contradicts how you actually feel&comma; it may be time to trust your body over your device&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;mjhtuw7yrjsz"><u>Bedtime Preparations<&sol;u><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>From how you spend the hour or two before bed to what you do once you’re in it&comma; certain activities and rituals are especially effective at helping you wind down and prepare your mind and body for restful sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;r1jc9cv7e6zt">27&period; Sip&comma; Instead of Chug&comma; Your Last Fluids<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>If you regularly wake up at night to urinate&comma; try stopping fluid intake about 10 hours after waking&period; When you do have your last drink of the day&comma; sip it slowly rather than chugging it&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>As the day goes on&comma; your body becomes less efficient at processing fluids&period; Drinking a large amount quickly can spike urine production&comma; and not all of it is eliminated right away&semi; the excess can linger and continue filling your bladder hours later&comma; potentially waking you up while you sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>In contrast&comma; drinking slowly allows your bladder to handle liquids in smaller&comma; more manageable amounts — reducing the chance of a backlog that carries into the night&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;r5jbwk6c7rmr">28&period; Do the Double Void<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>If you still find yourself waking up to pee at night despite cutting off fluids hours before bed&comma; try the &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;double void” technique&period; First&comma; use the bathroom as usual&comma; then wait about 30 seconds and try again&period; Alternatively&comma; go once before brushing your teeth and again right before getting into bed&period; This simple practice helps ensure your bladder is fully emptied&comma; reducing the chances of a nighttime wake-up call&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;bguuoou6&fjlig;e2">29&period; Rock Yourself to Sleep<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>It’s not just babies who are soothed by gentle rocking&period; Adults are too&period; A study showed that adults who napped in a rocking bed fell asleep faster and enjoyed deeper sleep than when the bed remained stationary&period; The rocking motion helps synchronize brain waves into patterns associated with quality sleep&period; Rocking beds are actually available on the market&comma; but a more practical implementation of this idea is to sit in a rocking chair to relax for a few minutes before you lie down in a standard stationary bed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;tvp2t1otnqak">30&period; Soak Your Hands in Warm Water<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>You may have heard that taking a warm bath about 90 minutes before bed can improve sleep&period; The heat draws blood to the skin’s surface&comma; and when you step out&comma; the dilated blood vessels help dissipate core body heat&period; This drop in core temperature signals the body to produce melatonin and promotes sleepiness&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>If you don’t have the time or patience for the rigmarole of a full bath&comma; soaking your hands in warm water for at least five minutes can induce a similar effect&period; The palms contain specialized blood vessels that are especially effective at radiating heat&comma; aiding in core temperature cooling&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;3gwp4gq4ft6q">31&period; Mindfully Do the Dishes<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Sleep is improved by having a wind-down routine — knocking off from all mentally or physically taxing tasks at least an hour before bedtime&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>But if you must complete one last chore before bed&comma; make it hand-washing dishes&period; A study found that participants who focused on the sensory experience of dishwashing — like the warmth of the water and the smell of the soap — experienced a 27&percnt; reduction in anxiety&period; This calming effect can help ease the transition into sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;34skcff3085v">32&period; Read a Physical Book<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Reading before bed is a well-known wind-down habit&comma; but its effectiveness is often underrated&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>One study found that just six minutes of reading reduced stress levels by 68&percnt; — more than listening to music&comma; drinking tea&comma; or playing video games — by lowering heart rate and relaxing muscle tension&period; Less stress translates into an easier time falling asleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Physical books&comma; with their unlit pages&comma; may be especially calming&comma; offering distance from both the temptation to check social media and the cortisol-spiking content it so often delivers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;8v4zywcl4l3l">33&period; Write a To-Do List<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>It’s not just completing to-dos during the day that aids sleep&comma; but preparing to tackle future tasks as well&period; Researchers found that people who spent five minutes writing down upcoming tasks fell asleep approximately ten minutes faster than those who merely documented completed tasks&period; The more detailed the to-do list&comma; the quicker participants nodded off&period; This &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;cognitive offloading” helps free your mind from the responsibility of remembering everything overnight&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;wrnco2antjo8">34&period; Address Worries Constructively<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research supports the idea that writing down your worries before bed can help improve sleep&period; This practice is particularly effective when you write down worries <em>and <&sol;em>potential solutions&period; People who document both their concerns and possible next steps experience less &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;pre-sleep cognitive arousal” than those who only list their worries&comma; making it easier to fall asleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Schedule a 15-minute &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;worry session” in the early evening &lpar;around 6 PM&rpar; to document problems and brainstorm concrete next steps&comma; and this will head off bedtime rumination&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;9eiezua8i951">35&period; Warm Your Neck<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Studies have found that warming the back of your neck to about 104°F &lpar;40°C&rpar; before bed improves both sleep onset and quality&period; This specific warming helps reduce sympathetic nervous system activity &lpar;which creates alertness&rpar; while increasing parasympathetic activity &lpar;which promotes relaxation&rpar;&period; A warm compress or heated neck wrap &lpar;<a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;4lwUnY8">plug-in<&sol;a> and <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;4jq9Ze2">microwavable<&sol;a> options are available&rpar; can do the trick&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;j4q5hrysku3">36&period; Release Jaw Tension<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>When you clench your jaw&comma; it sends signals to your brain that you’re under stress&comma; reinforcing anxiety that can make it harder to fall asleep&period; Instead&comma; aim for a relaxed&comma; slack jaw — like a trout’s&period; When your mouth is at ease&comma; your brain takes it as a cue to relax the rest of your body&comma; too&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>If you’re struggling to release jaw tension&comma; try this&colon; place your thumb under your chin and slowly open your mouth while applying gentle resistance&period; Hold for a few seconds&comma; then relax&period; Repeat 5–10 times&period; You can also massage your temples in small circles with your fingertips to relax the temporalis muscles&comma; which play a key role in jaw movement&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;e5r6atesxgv1">37&period; Sheathe Your Feet<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>When you warm your feet&comma; it dilates blood vessels and helps release heat from your core — a key signal your body uses to initiate sleep&period; Cold feet not only block this process but can also simply be uncomfortable and keep you awake&period; Research shows that people who wear socks to bed fall asleep faster&comma; sleep longer — by an average of 32 minutes — and wake up less during the night compared to barefoot sleepers&period; If your feet tend to run cold&comma; try wearing socks to bed or placing a hot water bottle at your feet&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;cjhhy45j6pb5">38&period; Practice Gratitude<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>You’ve probably heard that regularly writing down what you’re grateful for can boost both physical and mental health — from lowering blood pressure to lifting your mood&period; But gratitude has sleep benefits&comma; too&colon; by shifting you into a more positive frame of mind&comma; it can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer&period; Each night&comma; try jotting down five good things from your day — whether it’s a thoughtful gesture from a colleague or simply snagging a great parking spot&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;q30u7lfixu">39&period; Relax Your Tongue<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Your tongue holds more tension than you might think — you may be pressing it against the roof of your mouth right now without realizing it&period; Like a clenched jaw&comma; a tense tongue can send subtle signals of stress through the body&comma; making it harder to fall asleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>To release this hidden tension&comma; press your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth&comma; then let it drop completely as you allow your jaw to hang slightly open&period; Keep both the front and back of your tongue relaxed&comma; letting it rest heavily in your mouth&period; This simple act of release can become an effective cue for full-body relaxation&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;4zt8es30ug86">40&period; Apply Gentle Warmth to Your Abdomen<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Research shows that gently warming the skin — especially around the abdomen — increases neuronal activity in brain regions that regulate sleep&period; Try placing a warm &lpar;not hot&rpar; water bottle against your stomach&period; The key is subtle warming&comma; just slightly above skin temperature&comma; as too much heat will disrupt sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;lvtlm4ggptnd">41&period; Let Your Thoughts &lpar;Even If Negative&rpar; Come and Go<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Thinking stressful or worry-inducing thoughts as you lie in bed can create mental arousal that makes it harder to fall asleep&period; Paradoxically&comma; actively trying to fight these thoughts can actually backfire — making them more persistent and sleep more elusive&semi; research has shown that people instructed to suppress specific thoughts before bed took longer to fall asleep than those allowed to let their thoughts flow naturally&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Instead of resisting unwanted thoughts&comma; try acknowledging them without judgment&comma; then gently shift your focus to your breath&comma; positive reflections&comma; or calming visualizations&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;hnymvyqr8e9i">42&period; Try Sleep Restriction Therapy<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Counterintuitively&comma; spending less time in bed can improve sleep quality&period; If you’re lying awake for hours&comma; track your actual sleep time and initially restrict your time in bed to just that amount &lpar;but no less than five hours&rpar;&period; For example&comma; if you average six hours of actual sleep but need to rise at 6 AM&comma; don’t go to bed until midnight&period; As your sleep efficiency improves&comma; gradually move your bedtime earlier in 15-minute increments&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;b2zgk3e6e1n5"><u>During the Night<&sol;u><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Even if you successfully fall asleep&comma; it’s normal to wake up during the night&comma; and these tips can help you return to sleep more easily&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;9l270lv5u1qw">43&period; Embrace Stillness When You Wake<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>If you wake during the night&comma; resist the urge to toss and turn&period; Movement signals your body to increase alertness and can trigger adrenaline production&period; Instead&comma; calmly maintain stillness while taking slow breaths&comma; focusing on the sensation of the sheets against your skin or the coolness of air on your face&period; This mindful stillness often allows sleep to return naturally&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;iyb4qlj27vk2">44&period; Apply Acupressure at Heart 7<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Traditional Chinese medicine — and some emerging research — suggests that massaging the Heart 7 acupressure point &lpar;also known as the &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Spirit Gate”&rpar; may help relieve anxiety-induced insomnia&period; To find it&comma; look at the crease on your wrist directly below the gap between your ring and pinky fingers&semi; you’ll feel a small hollow beside the tendon on the outer edge of your wrist&period; Using your thumb&comma; gently press and massage this point in a circular motion for about a minute on each wrist&period; This simple technique may help you fall asleep more easily — and return to sleep if you wake up during the night&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 id&equals;"h&period;3d5whc3fg0a5">45&period; Keep Your Eyes Half-Shut During Middle-of-the-Night Bathroom Trips<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>When nature calls in the middle of the night&comma; avoid turning on bright lights — even brief exposure can suppress melatonin and make it harder to fall back asleep&period; Before bed&comma; clear a path to the bathroom that’s easy to navigate in the dark&comma; or use a dim nightlight if needed&period; If your trip to the loo will inevitably expose you to some light&comma; try to keep your eyes partially closed to minimize the impact&period; The less stimulation your brain receives&comma; the easier it will be to drift back to sleep&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<p><br &sol;>&NewLine;<br &sol;><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;artofmanliness&period;com&sol;health-fitness&sol;health&sol;45-tips-that-you-haven-t-heard-a-million-times-before-to-improve-your-sleep&sol;">Source link <&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><&excl;-- END THEIA POST SLIDER --><&sol;p>&NewLine;

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