Simple Sleep Tips: Getting Enough Sleep?

How’s your sleep? Well, if you’re anything like 65% of the population… you probably didn’t sleep enough last night. Although this is my coaching blog, as a counselor I help folks get better sleep, so I thought I would share some nuggets with you. After all, in order to reach your goals and be at your best you need to have some basics down, and that includes enough quality sleep.

Whether your sleep suffers due to stress, life changes, worries, ___________ (fill in YOUR blank here), here are a few simple things you can do to improve your sleep:

1. Don’t stay in bed tossing and turning. Guess what? Good sleepers get sleepy LOOKING at their bed. For them, it’s a cue for relaxation (like looking at the fridge can make you hungry). So, if you go to bed and don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes – get out of bed. Go relax somewhere else until you are sleepy again. That way your bed remains a strong cue for sleep (instead of worry and frustration.)
2. Don’t watch the clock. Tick, tick, tick… Generally clock-watching results in worry and tension…. which, paradoxically, wakeyou up! Here’s a general rule of thumb: relaxation brings on sleepiness, and worry and tension brings on wakefulness. Knowing what time it is WON’T change how much sleep you get. NOT knowing what time it is WILL give you a chance to relax and fall back to sleep to get more zzzz’s before you have to get up.
3. Have a relaxing bedtime ritual. Help your body and mind wind down an hour before you go to bed by engaging in relaxing activities. Suggestions? Make your lunch for the next day, pick out your clothes, brush your teeth, read a semi-boring book. And keep the lights low and the tech devices off. They emit blue light, which is very stimulating (yes, even TV).

Our sleep needs are individual and sometimes it takes individual solutions to get us back on track. If you would like some coaching around healthy sleep habits, just hit reply to set up a coaching session.

All The Best, 
Jen

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