Expert strategies to get you to bed at a timely hour.
We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep (and the problems, like headaches, that can come from a lack of sleep). So why, then, is it so difficult to hit the sack? Blame all the usual distractions: the ever-growing to-do list, modern technology, longer workdays and late dinners.
The good news: practice a few of the following expert tips on going to bed on-time and falling asleep fast, and you could gain back the sleep you’ve been missing.
Work Backwards
“Be realistic about what you can accomplish in the evening and edit your to-do list,” says Janet Kennedy, Ph.D. “Work backwards from your bedtime and allot time for your routine and any other necessities. Then ask yourself if you really have time to do the 10 other things you had in mind. Multitasking can be over-stimulating, especially when it involves screens. Focus instead on one or two priorities.”
Put Away Your To-Do List
Once you’ve tackled tonight’s to-dos, you might start obsessing over tomorrow’s. Resist! “Spend five minutes writing down all the things you want or need to accomplish tomorrow,” says Lindsay Livingston, R.D., author of the Lean Green Bean blog. “That way, you won’t have to worry about remembering them while you’re trying to fall asleep. You can turn off your brain, rest up and then tackle your to-do list in the morning.”
