There’s nothing worse than feeling exhausted when your alarm clock goes off in the morning. Sadly, this happens to me a lot.  While I don’t have insomnia, I rarely wake up feeling rested.  I toss and turn all night because I just can’t seem to get comfortable.  So, after years of restless nights, I finally decided to do something about it.

There are many different issues related to quality of sleep.  Some people can’t fall asleep so they stay up late and wake up tired.  Other people easily fall asleep easily, then wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.  By the time morning rolls around, they’re so tired that all they want to do is sleep—which makes it really difficult to get up.  And finally, there are people (like me) who just can’t get comfortable because of aches and pains in their bodies.

Before going to extremes (like taking pills or going to a sleep clinic) why not try the following suggestions:

IF YOU CAN’T FALL ASLEEP AT NIGHT

You already know that you shouldn’t exercise, drink caffeine or eat a large meal close to your bedtime. This makes sense because you don’t want to rev up your body before going to sleep.  If you can’t seem to get your mind and body ready for sleep, buy the CD Healthful Sleep by Belleruth Naparstek.  Her voice is so soothing that she simply lulls you into a deep, restful sleep.

IF YOU FALL ASLEEP EASILY BUT WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Drinking too much alcohol will disrupt your sleep—causing you to wake up in the middle of the night—so be mindful of that.  One or two glasses of wine can help you sleep like a baby, but more than that can have the opposite effect.

If you’ve been lucky enough to sleep near the ocean, you know that the constant sound of crashing waves can help you sleep soundly through the night.  Fortunately, you don’t need to plan a trip to the beach because you can download a free app called “Relax Ocean Waves Sleep” by Moz.  If you wake up in the middle of the night, just focus on the sound of the soothing waves.  You’ll be back to sleep in no time.

IF YOU TOSS AND TURN ALL NIGHT LONG

Buy a new mattress.  I know they’re expensive, but getting the right mattress can make all the difference in the world.  I finally realized that our mattress was just too hard for me.  I would wake up in the morning feeling as if I’d been hit by a train.

We went to Sleepy’s, the Mattress Professionals, and found a mattress that is really comfortable.  I can now sleep on my back without my arms going numb.  The mattress has so much more “give” when lying on my side and feels wonderful.  I have been sleeping SO much better, which means I’m healthier and happier!  Plus, my husband’s shoulders are no longer hurting!   So far, it’s been worth every penny.

Isn’t it time you started sleeping better?  Try the meditation CD, the free app or go buy a new mattress. Please share your tips on sleeping soundly.  And let us know how the changes you’ve made have affected your life.

Sleep well!

Molly