A Touch of Southern Grace : How To Go To Bed Earlier

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

How To Go To Bed Earlier

One of my New Year’s Goals that is at the very top of the list is going to bed earlier, and so far I have not been able/made the effort to achieve this goal yet. Once I get over the 10:30 at night hump I get my second, I start thinking about all these things I need to do, and the next thing you know I’m organizing, drafting emails, making to-do lists, etc. and the next thing you know it is 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning. It is seriously crazy how fast time passes at night, especially when you get caught up doing different things.

There are so many benefits to getting a good amount of sleep {attention, prevents aging, live longer, improves memory, alertness, mental benefits, etc.}. Needless to say this is definitely one goal I want to achieve. My aim for the rest of this year is to be asleep by 11, at the latest. I feel safe in making the assumption that I am not alone in needing to have an earlier bed time – below are a few tips I have come across to help you get to bed a bit earlier.

1. Have a certain time frame in mind for when you would like to actually be in the bed. Most people require seven to eight and a half hours of sleep. So if you have to wake up at 6 you would want to be in bed by 9 so you can have an hour to read, unwind, and put the day behind, then aim to be asleep by 10.

2. Don’t go straight from TV/computer to sleep – This is an a big mistake I make. Studies have shown that lighting from TVs and Computers can cause you to be more awake. It is better to read and unwind.

3. No caffeine before going to bed, for obvious reasons

4. Have dinner at least 2 hours before you go to bed. If you eat a big meal right before bedtime you might find that it is difficult to sleep

5. Using up energy during the day by working out and other physical activities will help you to sleep more soundly

6. Do your best to be consistent with your new bedtime. Going to bed at the same time every night will improve your sleep and make it easier to fall asleep.

For more health tips be sure to visit BeHealthy!