Turning 40 last year made me realize I’m not getting any younger and that I need to work harder at taking better care of myself for the years to come. Instead of setting resolutions for the New Year, which I never seem to keep anyway, I am going to work on changing some of my worst lifestyle habits gradually through the course of the year. Especially by taking steps to better sleep in 2015!
I started wearing a fitness band a few months ago and I was appalled when faced with the reality of how poor my sleep habits are. Some nights I woke up as many as six times a night, often getting less than four hours total sleep! No wonder I can’t concentrate, I get frazzled easily and even confused at times!
I have made a promise to myself to work on improving my sleep habits over the coming weeks and I want to share my 5 Steps to Better Sleep in 2015.
- No eating past 7 p.m. I rarely ever eat anything after dinner, but we do eat later than we should some nights due to our busy schedules. Keeping meal times earlier in the evening will help aid in digestion and keep you from feeling sluggish and bloated when getting ready for bed.
- Limit screen time. I honestly never even thought about it until now, but some studies suggest that smart phone use right before bed (which is when I tend to get on social media the most) will disrupt sleep patterns. So I will be reaching for a book instead, which is actually something I love to do but always claim I have no time for!
- De-clutter bedroom. To really enhance my sleep experience I am in the process of de-cluttering and organizing my bedroom. I want to lie down on my bed at night to sleep and not worry about the cluttered dresser or pile of stuff on the bedroom floor. A bedroom should be a haven for rest and relaxation, not a junk room.
- Get more exercise during the day. Since wearing my fitness band I have automatically started looking for ways to get more steps in every day, without going to the gym. I find myself taking the stairs more often at work, instead of the elevator, and parking just a row or two farther away in the parking lot. I have seen for myself on the days I get more steps in, the better I seem to sleep at night.
- Limit caffeine. This one will without a doubt be the hardest for me. I drink caffeine all day, right up until I go to bed. I drink coffee occasionally, but iced tea is my downfall, I drink it all day long. So my goal is to stop drinking tea in the evenings and switch to water (I really dislike the taste of decaf tea).
Change is tough, especially when you have years of bad habits to work on, but I think I can do this! Follow me on Twitter and I’ll let you know how and if my sleep is improving with these steps to better sleep in 2015.
Stephanie @ Diary of a Debutante says
Great tips… I really need to work on avoiding late night snacking. I’m the worst! Have a wonderful weekend!
xo,
Stephanie
Diary of a Debutante
http://www.thediaryofadebutante.com
Lori Gates says
Midnight snacking would be the hardest habit to break for me, too.
Debi says
I need to declutter in my room too. It is a mess and it bothers me when I am trying to rest.
Tammy says
I should probably work on that too. Stuff seems to migrate there and pile up, when I know there’s other places for it in the home.
Jennifer Williams says
I am completely guilty of the eating past 7. It is so hard when you are up until late hours working to not eat.
michelle says
I really need to work on these. I think the only one I am doing well on is keeping my bedroom organized.
Ashley Sears says
I try to think of my bedroom as my oasis. We try to keep it as calm and comfy as possible. That really helps me with sleep.
Colleen says
I’m currently working on number five and have a tall glass of water instead of soda today.
tammileetips says
These are great tips! Caffeine is my biggest down fall and causes me not to sleep at well at night.
Penelope says
I eat after 7, I drink caffeine, and I have my iPhone next to me as I go to sleep (and sometimes play Candy Crush)…this explains why I never get any sleep!
Cecile says
Great ideas! I need to work on all of these. I am definitely working on limiting screen time before bed.
Scott says
Cutting out caffeine was very hard for me too. Took a good week to get myself off of it!
Michele says
A decluttered bedroom is a must for me!! I get so distracted and can’t shut down my brain if its cluttered when I go to bed. Great tips!
Donna says
You know something sad? I eat popcorn (air popped) almost every single night after 9pm. I play games on my tablet until I can’t keep my eyes open. My bedroom is cluttered. I don’t get near enough exercise most days. And… I drink coffee all day long. No, most days I do not get enough sleep, usually around 6 hours, give or take 30 minutes either way. So I guess I need to do some work. 🙂
Kait says
I need to limit screen time for sure!! I always struggle with shutting off my brain when it’s time to sleep!
HilLesha says
I haven’t been getting the best of sleep for the past few months, mostly because I had an overwhelming amount of work, which is the norm during the holidays. Hopefully, I can get my sleep schedule back to gear now.
Raijean says
Lord knows, I need more sleep. I’ve been going to bed earlier so I won’t be so tired.
Marty says
Hey, thanks! I’m going to tape this post to my fridge, I need it that much! 🙂
HilLesha says
I’ve been sleeping a little better lately, but my sleep schedule still needs vast improvement.
Tammy says
I stay up way too late and I know it. I need to work on getting into a better routine because I know my body needs more sleep, I just get so much more done when everyone’s in bed, lol!
Valerie Remy-Milora says
These are all great tips! I learned a few years ago how important it is to stop eating at least 2 hours before bed time. It’s amazing what a different it makes, not only in the quality of sleep but in keeping unwanted fat away from our bellies. 🙂
Andrea Kruse says
Sleep is one area I know I need to work on. I am turning 37 this year and going without a good night’s sleep does affect me more. #2, 3 and #5 are the hardest for me. But, I also know it is a bad cycle. I drink more caffeine because I stayed up later working (on my computer, or checking last minute emails)… and my bedroom desperately needs to be made over!
vanessa: BriteandBubbly says
Sleep is something I really need to get more of and to get better sleep.