Do you ever….

Have a hard time falling asleep?

Struggle to stay asleep?

Deal with overthinking in the middle of the night?

Take your worries to bed with you?

Wake up feeling exhausted?

If you said yes to any of the above, you are not alone.

Many of the execs I work with struggle with sleep.  And with good reason – schedules can be inconsistent, travel may interrupt your routine, pressures abound, deadlines are looming, and let’s face it, life can be just plain hard sometimes.

The good news: You can do something about it.

By now you’re probably well aware that getting a good night’s rest is essential and directly impacts your overall well-being.

The answer may be tucked away in what you do, or don’t do, before you hit the hay.

But the real question is: How?  How can I make sleep my new best friend?

Rest assured, I got you.  (Rest…get it?!)

Here’s a sleep starter kit for ya:

• Set aside time to relax before bed.

If you go straight from turbo mode and jump into bed with no transition time, your body doesn’t have time to wind down.  Make the commitment to yourself and set aside time for relaxation.

• Front-load your hydration.

Drinking water earlier in the day and having a cutoff a few hours before bedtime will reduce the need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

• Check your technology at the door.  

Blue light from technology, TV and other electronics can interfere with sleep.

• Enjoy a cup of tea.  

Lavender, chamomile and other herbal teas help you relax.

• Prepare your bedroom environment.

Dim the lights while you wind down.

Make sure room is cool and dark.

Play relaxing music.

• Clear the clutter.
• Invest in a high-quality mattress and sheets.
• Cut the caffeine.
• Scents – Oil diffusers, room sprays, pillow sprays.
• Practice mindfulness.

If you do find yourself tossing and turning and overthinking in the middle of the night, draw your attention back to the present.  

Mindfulness means being fully present and aware.  The middle of the night is a great time to dabble with it, because you don’t have the distractions you have during the day.  

Focus on the softness of the sheets, the cool temp of the air, your breath

There are so many ways to invest in your sleep, and I’d encourage you to try out some of these ideas.

As always, I’m here to help you. Click here and we’ll get this party started (but not right before bed).  Have a wonderful week.