My Best Hacks for a Restful Night’s Sleep

As a habitual insomniac, I am often asked for my best hacks for a restful night’s sleep because even with insomnia I don’t look tired nor do I feel it like other insomniacs. It took me many years to horn down what activities allowed me to enjoy a restful sleep every single night and which didn’t. There are many reasons why people suffer from insomnia and the reasons why most people are not getting a good and restful night’s sleep. I have had to learn a few practices that allow me to enjoy a good night’s sleep and I share them in this post.

For many, this year has brought on and induced stress in a lot of situations from loss of income due to redundancies to failed relationships. This and many more issues has led to people struggling to sleep and thereby failing to achieve a night of restful sleep. Lack of sleep can affect your everyday life and reduce your capacity to function at your best. I hope my best hacks for a restful night’s sleep will be useful for fellow insomniacs or those struggling with sleep for various reasons.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified sleep expert, all opinions shared in this post are my own and based off of my own experiences.

My Best Hacks for a Restful Night’s Sleep

We all need sleep, sleep is important for us to function better during the day, for the digestive system and for the body to recharge to fight another. When I was younger, I could operate happily on 3-4 hours sleep max and I wouldn’t feel too tired during the day. As I have gotten a bit older I feel now how lack of sleep impacts the rest of my day especially these days when we are spending more time at home working into the wee hours than going to the physical office for a few hours of a day.

As I have gotten older, sleep is no longer about getting 8+ hours of sleep, its about getting a restful night’s sleep so I feel rejuvenated and ready to conquer the day. Suffering from insomnia for so many years, I have paid special attention to things that promote a restful night’s sleep and things that cause me to feel restless even after 8+ hours of sleep. My best hacks for a restful night’s sleep are all based on my own experience but I also recommend seeking guidance with your GP.

Below is a list of 6 of my best hacks for a restful night’s sleep that I totally recommend anyone struggling with sleep or wanting to get a more restful night’s sleeps tries.

Meditation

Meditation is not something I thought would work for me and I say this because my mind is often running at a 100-miles an hour and I find it hard to focus and concentrate for long. I practice yoga and mindfulness but I am a long way off doing these correctly but I find both of these helpful when I am struggling to sleep. A few weeks ago I started Peloton’s 14-day power of sleep practice and by day 3 I could already feel the difference.

I don’t know about you but personally it takes me at least 1hr of logging off the computer, switching off the TV, and even longer after eating before I can finally fall asleep. Sometimes I find myself then minute my head hits the pillow, its the time that my mind remembers all the 10001 things I have been wanting to do my entire life. And more days, my mind remembers that its time for me to review the day’s to-do list and plan for the next day. It’s for this reason I decided to try this 14-day power of sleep program.

Benefits of sleep meditation includes:

• Calms the mind and relaxes the body
• Helps you tune out the world and focus on your breathing

Weighted Blankets

The theory behind weighted blankets is that the deep pressure you feel from being under the weight of your weighted blanket has a calming effect. I personally needed to try it to truly appreciate if the weighted blankets worked or not and they do work. I felt like I was being hugged in a cocoon, I could still turn when sleeping if I wanted to but I did find myself restricted. A friend knowing I am an insomniac recommended weighted blankets as I didn’t want to resonate to popping sleeping pills just to get a good night’s sleep.

Many studies have been done on weighted blankets which showed that under weighted blankets, ‘patients showed more activity in the part of the nervous system that is in control during the times of low stress’. I love the feeling of being hugged under the weighted blank when sleep, I toss a whole lot less now and my sleep always feels restful every single day.

Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs

When I am travelling, sleeping mask and ear plugs are the only way I find I can get a good night sleep on planes, trains and buses. I am someone who struggles to sleep when the light is on and during the day when I wish to nap I always wear a sleep mask and ear plugs because I am also sensitive to sounds when I am trying to sleep. Over the years I have resorted to wearing headphones and has great as that has been in that moment, in the long term I have experienced fast buildup of ear wax. For some people, ear wax builds up faster than others and some even require professional help.

No one wants to talk about ear wax but we should as it can cause problems if not sorted quickly. I clean my ears weekly (inside) and daily (outside) as its something that is part of my routine but some people don’t have such a routine and end up needing a doctor’s appointment to get the ear wax buildup removed. If you don’t have time to wait for a GP’s appointment, then let me recommend *Auris Ear Care – an ear clinic that can either come to you or you visit their London clinic and enjoy a same-day appointment which are available.

Camomile Tea

For as long as I can remember, I have always called upon camomile tea whenever I am struggling to sleep and want to relax as I start my day. Camomile is known for its relaxation effects and its used to treat a wide range of health issues. For most of us women, camomile tea is often recommended as it helps reduce menstrual pain aka cramps and I know it works for others and it doesn’t for some. I personally drink a cup of camomile tea every night before bed and it does aid my sleep but I know there are some people who are allergic to camomile tea so make sure you check with your doctor if this is something you can take.

Investing in a quality bed

It truly goes without saying, a good bed can promote a good night’s sleep, if you body is uncomfortable you are definitely not going to enjoy your sleep. I invested in a good bed many moons ago and I highly recommend the Eve Mattress and Leesa Mattress, these are the two mattresses my family uses and can not recommend them enough. Over the last 10 years I have slept on a lot of different mattresses in hotels and at home and I can definitively say, a foam mattress is a worthy investment and the best option for side sleepers.

Exercise Before Bed

I think we can also agree that exercise is good for you even though every time I have to do it I complain from beginning to end but I see the benefits. Whenever I exercise before bed I find that my sleep is better and feel much more rested in the morning before I start my day. But not all exercise was created equal, intense exercise in some people makes them feel energetic and can impact their sleep but moderate to light exercise like yoga can actually help foster better sleep.

A combination of these hacks has helped me with enjoying a better night’s sleep, I recommend you try or or two of these and see which of these work for you.

*This is a collaborative post