Do you ever have trouble falling asleep? Waking up in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep? Or maybe you’re just a light sleeper?
I’ve been there – sleepless nights, tossing and turning. Then I started a simple bedtime routine and now get the best sleep of my life. If you are looking to up your sleep game, this post is for you.
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Falling asleep and staying asleep are two struggles I hear about a lot. I’ve dealt with these two issues myself in the past, as well as full-blown insomnia… That’s when I know I’m dealing with way too much stress.
Not getting enough sleep has plagued me enough in my life, therefore I’ve taken a few steps to build what I now consider my night routine to ensure a good night’s sleep.
The agony of tossing and turning when all you want is for your brain to shut off and be asleep is a struggle I’ve experienced far more than I would like.
I’ve had to make some changes in my life to work around these issues. Especially living in a busy, bustling, noisy city. Disruptions can be frequent, but they can also be avoided. See tips below…
I used to live downtown in Little Italy, San Diego right next to the train tracks and trolley stop. These are heavily travelled tracks to say the least. Let’s just say I could safely jump from my balcony onto the trolley, if for some reason I needed to.
Living next to a train and trolley stop means every 15 minutes of ding ding ding ding ding for the trolley passenger stop, not too mention the Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak) every hour and the San Diego Coaster, a local train serving the area running in conjunction with the rest. And as if that wasn’t enough, the BNSF (massive freight train) comes barreling through for AT LEAST 20 minutes at a time, sometimes multiple times a night.
Like I said, heavily travelled. AKA it’s loud.
This is why I started the habit of wearing earplugs to bed.
Some may think it’s weird, some may think it’s genius, but it has allowed me to get sleep against all odds (especially during the BNSF roll-through).
Due to having sleep issues (usually tied to stress/anxiety) in the past, I created a nighttime bed routine that helps me feel settled and ready for sleep.
My Bedtime Routine:
I repeat this routine every single evening when I get into bed. After I brush my teeth and all that jazz I jump in bed, then…
- Put on lip balm to mitigate dry cracked lips (hate that)
- Drop a couple eye drops in to reduce dry eye
- Grab my full-body pillow, my husband discerningly calls “Him,” and finally…
- Roll up some ear plugs for a soundproof deep sleep that awaits
- If I’m still not sleepy, I’ll grab a book and reading light (so the rest of the room is dark) and within a few minutes my eyelids begin to feel heavy.
Now, even though I’ve moved away from the trains (thank goodness) I’m still a light sleeper. The trains were replaced with a husband that snores, or breathes loud, or something… but really it just helps me drown out all the sounds I used to focus on (mainly the snoring).
Do you ever hear the small clicks, creaks, and other weird house settling noises? Yea those drive me nuts. I will end up focusing on those little noises so much I start to anticipate the next creak and then two hours later I’m tossing, turning, and can’t fall asleep.
So yea. I wear earplugs. Every night.
I first learned about this trick from my mom. She has been wearing them my entire life. I always remember her saying, “OK, I’m going to put my other earplug in now.” Her nice way of saying it’s time to shut up and sleep. She too has a husband (my adorable father) that snores, so I get how the habit was formed.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
If earplugs aren’t your thing or you just can’t stand to have anything in your ears, a fan or white noise maker can be a game-changer.
The body pillow, AKA the most wonderful sleep enhancing invention.
I’ve been using a body pillow since I can remember. I’m primarily a side sleeper, which means pressure on the hips, knees, and even tight chest/shoulders (without proper alignment).
Sleeping on my side is comfortable but I have experienced pain in each of those areas listed above when I don’t get the proper support. The body pillow can be positioned to provide optimal support and comfort to all your joints, providing you with a great pain-free night’s sleep. So snuggle up to “Him” or “Her” LOL. Wrap your arms and legs around and enjoy a pain-free, healthy joint promoting night’s sleep.
What is your bedtime routine like? How do you ensure you get the best night’s sleep?
Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. This post is intended for educational, inspirational, or entertainment purposes only. I am not a doctor, the content on this blog is not intended to be substituted for medical advice.
