GET FREE SAMPLES

sign up for our newsletter to get free sample alerts

How to Get a Better Night's Sleep... and Prevent Nightmares

Experts sound off with their best sleep hygiene tips
Photo 3/12
Don't Fight Fatigue
It might seem incredibly obvious but an important part of a routine should be actually going to bed when you're sleepy, according to Alcibiades Rodriguez, MD, director of the Sleep Center at NYU Langone Health.

Similarly, try to get up at the same time every day: Hoyer says that this helps maintain an intact circadian rhythm.

Image via sam thomas/Getty

Photo 4/12
Set up a Stellar Sleeping Space
Consider Bedroom Temperature: The climate of your sleeping space makes a huge difference. For optimal sleep, Newman says that the ambient temperature should be slightly cool, with warm covers.

Create an Enjoyable Sleep Space: Take a look at your sleeping space. Is it calming? Do you like your sheets and blankets? Is your mattress comfortable? Do the pillows provide enough support? Is there a relaxing scent that could be added? "If there is room for improvement, don't be afraid to make some changes," says Newman. "You spend a third of your life asleep!"

Make Sure It's Dark: Is your bedroom dark? (Yes, that includes TV, phone and computer screens.)

Image via John Fedele/Getty

Photo 5/12
Eat Right
You've heard the one about avoiding caffeine for better shuteye. (And you should — some even stop at 2 p.m. or even noon.)

Other no-nos? Heavy meals and alcohol. Rodriguez says that heavy meals shouldn't be scoffed too close to bedtime. Eating three hours or less before shuteye can impact slumber. It can even lead to bad dreams: Hoyer says that meals that are high in fat and carbohydrates in particular can signal the brain to raise its neuronal activity, which can be "the perfect recipe for having nightmares."

Rodriguez also recommends avoiding alcohol prior to bed. Yes, alcohol tends to make you sleepy, but according to Newman, it has a documented negative effect on the quality of your sleep — so don't be fooled.

Also, consider what you should eat: Foods like ripe kiwis and almonds can help promote slumber. Hoyer swears by the previous two because they both have a high dosage of magnesium as well as melatonin. She continues that nuts in general are great provided they're unsalted and unglazed.

Image via skaman306/Getty

Photo 6/12
Get up With the Sun
To resynchronize the circadian day/night rhythm, Hoyer says that it's crucial to avoid any light 30 minutes before going to bed and to expose ourselves to natural sunlight the next morning immediately after getting up.

"The morning light inhibits melatonin production, induces sleep earlier in the day, improves its quality and duration, and even provides an antidepressant effect," says Hoyer. "I cannot stress this enough: How we sleep is not least determined on how we get up!"

Image via Letizia McCall/Getty

Photo 7/12
Work From Home Tips
With power blazers and even jeans being replaced by nap dresses and athleisure picks, many people report that they're wearing the same clothes to sleep in and work in, per Newman. Comfort might be the goal, but it's actually not the best practice for sleep. "As arbitrary as it might seem, there is value in changing from sleep lounge clothes to daily lounge clothes, and then back into sleep lounge clothes at night," says Newman. "The transition moments will also remind you to engage in your grooming habits, which also help you feel more aware of circadian cues in the absence of the external cues many people used to have with reporting to work or school at a particular time each day."

Similarly, having some semblance of a routine during the day is beneficial to correspond with your bedtime routine, per Rodriguez.

Image via Westend61/Getty

BY HEATHER CICHOWSKI | AUG 28, 2020 | SHARES
VIEW COMMENTS
Full Site | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
TotalBeauty is a property of Evolve Media Holdings, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved. | Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links.