Sleep is super duper important. Even Arianna Huffington has said so. I’ve learned that in this juggling act that is my day jobbing, side hustling, and caregiving life, sleep can be the difference between a productive day and a hot mess. Some people live by the #teamnosleep philosophy, and it may work for them, but it is not a solution for everyone.

Also, lack of sleep can cause many health issues, including stress and weight gain around the middle.  It can also affect your mood, making you less patient and increasing your risk of health issues like high blood pressure and depression.

I feel better prepared to handle the day with a restful night’s sleep. I also feel less stressed, get sick less often and have a clearer mind and better focus.  So let’s talk about ways we can improve your sleep.

Have a wind-down routine, preferably away from screens.

Screens can be evil as it makes it harder for our body to know it’s nighttime. If you can create a night-time or wind-down routine leading up to bedtime, your body will know to start relaxing. This could be closing the laptop, putting the screens away, and picking up a good book. It’s a signal to your body that it’s time for sleep.

Avoid coffee in the afternoons.

You will need to gauge this for yourself – but I know that if I have coffee after 2 pm, it'll be harder for me to fall asleep that night.  So I often opt for afternoon tea or hot chocolate. Figure out how late in the day you can have caffeine before it starts affecting your sleep.

Exercise.

If you exercise, it really can help you sleep better. It helps my stress levels and tires out my body a bit so I can fall asleep without going into worry mode.  It's good to exercise in the morning or early afternoons because doing it too close to bedtime can affect your sleep.

Make lavender your BFF.

I love using lavender Epsom salt or Pond's makeup remover wipes right before bed, as the scent signals to my senses that it’s time for bed.

Have a nighttime mocktail.

You can have some chamomile tea, warm milk with honey, or one of these fancy alternatives to help you relax and sleep better.

Use Casper Mattresses’s sleep cards.

If you are trying to figure out how to deal with a particular sleep issue, look it up on the card below and try the recommended solution. For example, if you find that anxiety keeps you awake, doing a quick meditation or some light stretching may be the way to go.