8 Simple Tips to Get Your Best Night's Sleep!

This post is sponsored by Fabletics. All opinions are my own.

8 Simple Tips to Get Your Best Night's Sleep

While we run around doing many important things during the day, the most important thing of all takes place while we sleep at night. During sleep, our body gets to work regenerating cells, fighting off viruses and infections and repairing parts of our body.

If you get less than 6 hours of sleep each night, your body might not be working at its full potential. It's recommended that adults get 8 hours of deep sleep each night so that their body can restore itself.

Luckily, I have some easy tips that will help you get the most restful sleep imaginable and also help you fall asleep more easily.

1. Avoid Spicy Food and Cheese Right Before Bedtime

This is a tough one for me as I love my apples and cheese as a snack and often times I'm guilty of having it just before bed. But, research shows that spicy foods and cheese can both disrupt sleep patterns. Researchers believe that this is a biological response to foods which the body mistakenly thinks are dangerous. So, if you absolutely must snack before bedtime, stick to healthy fruits and vegetables.

2. Cut Back on the Booze

If you've ever gone to sleep after a few too many, you know how common it is to wake up in the middle of the night feeling dreadfully dehydrated. While some people believe that having a "night cap" will help them fall asleep more easily, alcohol actually inhibits restful sleep as the body struggles to process it through the bloodstream. Sugary alcohol drinks like wine can even result in a sudden burst of energy hours after consumption as the body processes the sugar. I've experienced this myself by waking suddenly only a few hours after falling asleep.

3. Take Up Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to trigger responses in the brain. Certain oils like lavender, clary sage, jasmine, and rosemary have been found to reduce stress significantly and encourage relaxation and deep sleep. Consider investing in an oil diffuser. This device sits on any tabletop and allows you to diffuse essential oil into the air throughout your bedroom while you drift off to sleep. Alternatively, you can place a few drops of your chosen essential oil onto a cotton round and place it next to your pillow.

4. Exercise And Fresh Air

Exercise is a great way to tire yourself out so that your body will be drained enough to fall right asleep. Exercise also reduces stress that can keep you up at night. I personally love HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and hiking. Even a brisk walk in the fresh air outside can do a world of good to relieve stress and have us drifting off to sleep more easily. If I'm exercising closer to bedtime, I love to pop in a yoga DVD. It can be hard to stay motivated, though. A few ways I stay motivated to workout is with cute new exercise clothing, trying out new workout routines, and/or finding a workout buddy.

5. Wear Comfy Clothes

Invest in some comfortable clothes that you can wear while you lounge and sleep. Comfortable clothes that you can wear around the house will keep your body feeling unrestricted, allow proper blood flow and relax your muscles so that you can fall asleep more easily. We've all heard of the current craze over "athleisure wear," and I'm all for it! Who doesn't want to look cute while being comfy at the same time?

Companies like Fabletics offer stylish athletic clothes that are cute enough to lounge around in. Because of the comfortable fabrics, they work great as sleepwear as well. Items like the Analia Short and the Palisades Top are perfect for relaxing comfortably.

6. Drink Herbal Teas

Chamomile and lemon balm teas are two of my favourites to help me unwind before bed. Chamomile tea has been used as a sleep aid for centuries. Chamomile and lemon balm both encourage relaxation of both the mind and body, allowing you to drift off to sleep easily.

7. Take a Hot Bath or Shower

Studies show that sudden temperature shifts make our bodies feel tired. Therefore, try taking a super hot shower or bath right before bedtime. While your body cools off from the hot water, you will feel a sudden sense of relaxation, allowing for a better night's sleep. You can also try turning down the thermostat, which will help with sleep by cooling down your body.

8. Learn How to Let Go of Stress

Even if our body is feeling exhausted, if we have a lot on our mind, it can be very hard to fall asleep. That's why it's important to find a stress-reducing technique that works for you like yoga or meditation. Keeping a notepad by your bed to write down what's on your mind can help free your mind from the worries for the time being. I also find that practising mindfulness by living in the moment can be very helpful. A relaxed mind is much more conducive to a restful sleep.

I hope you find these tips helpful. Incorporating some of these tips into your daily routine should have you drifting off in no time!

Let me know what tips you have to get your best night's sleep!

*This post is sponsored by Fabletics. No affiliate links are used. Always check with your Doctor before beginning new supplements or exercise routines.