‘Just 5 more minutes.’ We are all guilty of using this or a variation of this in regards to waking up. We all have had nights where we can’t fall asleep or mornings where waking up was the last thing on our mind. Sleep is one of the most important factors of leading a healthy lifestyle. That being said, let’s look at some ways to take our sleep from ‘okay’ to AMAZING! 

  

As far as great sleep goes, consistency is key. Ideally, you want to be waking up and going to bed at the same times every day. This allows your body to adapt to certain times and makes it easier to go to bed and wake up at the times you’ve set for yourself.

 

Even the slightest bit of light filtering in from outside can affect the quality of your sleep and your ability to fall asleep. Do yourself a favour and buy yourself blackout curtains. Sleeping in full darkness allows you to fall asleep a lot faster and stay asleep throughout the night. 

 

This one is critical. The light that comes off phone screens can actually stop melatonin production in the body – an essential part of your body’s recovery process. Make sure to be technology free for at least 1 hour before going to bed. By doing this, the brain tells the body that it is ready to go to bed and will allow for proper recovery during sleep. 

 

If you’re going to have some form of caffeine, make sure it is before noon. Having caffeine in the evening will not allow your body to power down into a relaxing state. Make it a point to only drink water in the evening to get your body and mind ready to fall into a deep sleep. 

 

It’s simple, you can’t hit snooze if you can’t reach your alarm clock. Whether it’s your phone, or an actual alarm, put it on the other side of the room. This will make you get up first thing and start to oxygenate your whole body. Movement is one of the fastest ways to wake yourself up in the morning. 

 

Exercise in the morning is one of the most effective ways to wake you up both physically and mentally. But even if you’re working out in the evening, exercise has been proven to relax both the mind and the body. Studies have been done that show people that work out on a regular basis experience overall better sleep. So get out there and get active! 

 

Another major key to have great sleep is having a great morning routine. Whether it’s working out, reading, going for a walk, or even having a cold shower, do something in the morning that is going to get you out of the sleep state into one that engages your mind, your body, or both. 

 

Going to sleep on a full stomach can make it hard on your body to shift from being alert to being relaxed. Make sure you eat a light dinner so that you are able to properly digest before heading to bed. This will not only help you sleep better, it can promote weight loss too!