Five Surprising Sleep Tips

Sweet Dreams!

Are you struggling with sleep? In honor of Better Sleep Month, I wanted to supply you with some surprising tips for your better sleep tool kit. We all know about the importance of a dimly lit room before bed and the importance of ditching “screen time” an hour before bed. And chances are you know how important it is to stay away from caffeine (including chocolate) after 12:00 p.m.

However, you may not know about the following:

1. Elevate your feet before bed. Are you one of the many people who wake up in the middle of the night to pee? And then you struggle to get back to sleep? In addition to reducing the amount of liquid you consume before bed, try elevating your feet. When you put your feet up before bedtime, it pushes the fluids that have accumulated around your ankles back into the bloodstream, allowing you to urinate out the excess fluid while you’re awake.
2. Chill out. Research shows that sleep is best achieved with a room temperature of 65=degrees Fahrenheit…even if you must pile on some blankets!
3. Try tart cherry juice before bed. Tart cheery juice is the richest source of melatonin, a hormone that helps induce a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
4. Take an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salts help your skin and bloodstream absorb magnesium, which relaxes muscles and decreases cortisol. This is especially helpful for people who wake due to Restless Leg Syndrome.
5. Consider yoga. A recent study from the University of Washington found that older women who took yoga for two months reported considerably less insomnia. The gentle motions and poses may help reduce stress levels and improve blood flow, which makes it easier to sleep.

Here’s to peaceful slumber! Comment below with tips that help you get a good night’s sleep!