4 Ways To Relax Before Bed
Taking the time to unwind properly before bed is a great way to ensuring a good night’s sleep. If you’ve been sat on your phone or been watching the television right before it’s time to put your head on the pillow, then you haven’t given your mind or body the opportunity to switch off. This will eat into vital recovery hours as your body will take much more time to fall asleep properly, and with 6 to 8 hours being the recommended nightly rest time, you’ll probably be woken up by your morning alarm before you’ve had the right amount of sleep.
It’s important to be strict on yourself, and get into a healthier routine, to ensure your body is winding down and preparing properly for a good night’s sleep, so you need to think of some alternative activities to partake in before you go to bed. The activities below will give you the opportunity to relax and de-stress in the hours leading up to when you go to bed.
Take A Bath
Light some candles and take a warm bath before putting your pajamas on and heading off to bed; this is a great way to unwind and feel cozy at the end of the day. Aromatherapy oils such as lavender, jasmine, and ylang-ylang are great for supporting sleep and can be added to your bath water before you get in. These natural remedies can help to slow down your nervous system and decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, which will help you fall asleep.
Read A Book
Swapping your phone for a book before bed means you are removing the artificial blue light that is the culprit for keeping your brain awake into the late hours of the night. Staring at this light source when the sun goes down is confusing for your brain to understand and will throw your circadian rhythm out of sync. Reading from the pages of a book give your mind the chance to wind down and allow you to drift off into a peaceful, deep sleep.
Have A Massage
If you’re feeling tense after a stressful day at work, then it might be wise to book in an evening massage before you got to bed. Remedial massage therapy has been shown to be good for your sleep as it helps individuals relax and can stimulate hormones that are conducive to sleep. Heaven and Earth Massage use this holistic therapy to relax your muscles and calm your mind, the perfect remedy to indulge in before you go to bed.
Make A Cup Of Tea
Caffeine should always be off the menu in the hours leading up to going to bed, but de-caffeinated herbal tea can actually help calm your body and mind before you sleep. Chamomile and valerian root are popular options to try but may require some getting used to as they’re not always to everyone’s taste; adding a dash of honey can sweeten the flavor if it is required.