The Importance Of De-stressing To Achieve A Good Night’s Sleep
Our body knows what we think and feel, and our subconscious mind will reciprocate all of these. If we are so tired and stressed from work, financial issues, health, etc., our subconscious mind will tremendously affect our daily norm more than the physical weariness we put in from work. The effects of being so emotionally and mentally stressed will adversely impact the way we sleep at night.
My grandmother once told me never to go to bed with a heavy heart or have problems or issues that need to be resolved and addressed before the night ends. People from then lived longer than the new generation because the stress and lifestyle level are lower than nowadays. They tend to sleep better and longer hours at night. Their lifestyle in common was straightforward and uncomplicated.
What is the importance of de-stressing before bedtime? I should say it is significantly crucial for our overall health. Less sleep or no sleep summarizes various factors such as moody behavior, skin breakouts, and severe health issues like high blood pressure, insomnia, etc. You quickly get provoked and have no sense of direction because your mind is exhausted from not resting.
Here are the simple ways to de-stress before bedtime:
8 Ways To De-Stress Before Bedtime
1. PUT YOUR FEET UP.
You might think it’s a bizarre way of De-stressing, but if you are working longer hours walking, elevating your feet at home after a hard day will help you recuperate and promote good blood circulation in your heart. It’s simple, yet the benefits are enormous in recovering the circular flow to your core.
Elevating feet is for people working on their feet for so many hours and those who spend most of their day sitting on a chair at work. It will also take the pressure from your veins and reduce inflammation. Elevating your feet for 15 minutes at home before bedtime can prevent vein issues like varicose veins as you grow older.
2. TAKE A WARM SHOWER.
If you feel sore from exercising or doing some physically demanding work, a warm shower at the end of the day will ease your whole body’s discomfort and pain. I mostly take my time in a warm shower after work. With the pandemic situation on board, I always make sure that going straight to a warm shower is a priority.
It will comfort and ease muscle pain and fatigue; it helps relax your muscle before bed and naturally recharge your beauty. Using lavender or rainforest bath soap will relieve and rejuvenate your body’s condition.
3. EAT A LIGHT MEAL.
Some people I know do not like to eat when drained, but for others like myself, eating doesn’t affect my current mood. Eating dinner before 6 PM is always best, but if you get home past the recommended eating time, it is vital to go for a light meal. Not eating before bed is not a good practice for your body. It will mess up your metabolism and could affect your good night’s sleep. Imagine yourself going to bed with your belly gurgling.
It will hamper and cut short your sleep, and you won’t achieve a whole night of rest—some alternatives for a light dinner like eating less or no carbs if you prefer, salmon with veggies of your preference, salad with a light dressing, or a bowl of chicken vegetable soup. Eating a light meal for dinner could also re-gain your energy from a demanding workday and enable you to de-stress before bedtime.
Related: Eating Less To Boost Your Health
4. DRINK SOME TEA.
Hot green tea, chamomile, or lavender tea promotes a good night’s sleep. Chamomile and lavender have antioxidant components, act as sedatives, and aid in pain relief. De-stressing before a night of sleep with hot tea will also restore the damaging effect of exposing your skin to external factors and slowing aging.
Some benefits of drinking chamomile tea include proper digestion, lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which promote sleep, boost our immune system, and ease muscle spasms. So start incorporating this simple step of de-stressing yourself at the end of the day.
5. READ BOOKS OR ARTICLES.
Reading either informative books or articles will enhance and quickly stimulate your brain. Study shows that engaging in activity that frequently enables your mind will decrease dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A well-written informative book can de-stress and drive you away from the chaotic and stressful situation at the end of the day.
It leads and focuses your attention on the details and information in what you are reading instead of thinking about the day’s negative experiences.
Reading can also improve focus and concentration while expanding your vocabulary and developing your analytical skills. If you are not a fan of reading, start by reading short articles before bedtime until you get used to reading before lying down to sleep.
6. APPLY to AROMATHERAPY.
Using aromatherapy in the form of lotions, oils, and aromatic candles can promote health and well-being. Aromatherapy includes a wide array of de-stressing benefits, including a good night’s sleep, combat body pains, relaxation of your mind and emotion, and boosts your immune system.
The scent of aromatherapy will fade the burden of anxiety and stimulate calm and inner peace. If you happen to go to a massage salon, the aromatic smell will greet you as you enter the establishment; this will help customers to stimulate tranquility before their session starts.
7. PLAN A TO-DO LIST FOR THE NEXT DAY.
It is always comforting to know that your things to do for the following day are already set and intact. Preparing and planning your essential work before bedtime will help ease that burden in your mind and de-stress you from rushing into a predicament. For me, internalizing and planning the night before is highly essential.
I set my alarm at the same time every day, step out the door for work, and calculate the standard or average arrival at the same time every day. I mainly plan what to do in my projects and start it daily regardless of my hectic schedule.
If you are working full-time at home, you can plan what to do when you first get up in the morning and what you must accomplish at the end of the day. A small step of planning each day will de-stress all of your night’s uncertainties.
8. LISTEN TO MUSIC.
Before I start working on my project at night, I always ensure I get my headphones ready and tune in to my classical and relaxing music while doing my computer work. Doing these simple things will help calm my mind and enhance my thinking.
It’s a brain stimulator for me and speeds up conceiving ideas. Whenever I have difficulty sleeping at night, I always tune in to my favorite music, internalize every bit of the melody, and eventually fall asleep.
