10 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sleep Number. All opinions are 100% mine.

Earlier this week, I was driving home from the airport and drove right past my exit. The same exit I’ve taken countless times. Not only did I pass my exit, but it took me about ten minutes to realize my mistake. That’s when it hit me just how tired I was. As a wife and mother, I’ve realized that I NEED sleep to function. This May, I’ve decided to celebrate “Better Sleep Month” with a commitment to improve my sleeping habits. Want to join in on the fun? Check out how I’m committing to get a better night’s sleep.

10 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

1. Set a schedule – A routine sleep pattern is the first step to ensure a good night’s rest. Keeping a consistent bed/wake time, even on weekends, regulates our internal sleep clocks.

2. Don’t nap – Naps may be tempting after a restless sleep but they can also be the source of the problem.

3. Perform guided meditation – When racing thoughts keep me up at night, several free apps offer the perfect meditation walk through.

4. Use Curtains – Regular blinds just don’t make the cut for an east facing window and a morning Arizona sun. Curtains are a stylish way to for longer, darker sleep.

5. Eat a light dinner – Making lunch the big meal of the day ensures that the digestive system isn’t working overtime at night.

6. Drink water – A glass of water before bed is a refreshing way to both hydrate and relax.

7. Do Breathing exercises – Deep breathing is the easiest way to quiet minds after a long day. The best trick I’ve found to slow my heart rate and fall asleep quickly is breathing in for 4 seconds, holding for 6 and then breathing out for 7.

8. Use White noise – Living next to an air force base, train track, and chocolate lab certainly makes for some noisy nighttime interruptions. Fans and white noise machines block out these distractions for the entire family.

9. Put down the electronics – Our bodies interpret the blue light from electronics as sunlight so avoid the need to scroll through the feed before bed.

10. Sleep on a good mattress – Waking up with aches and pains? You’re mattress is most likely to blame. Thankfully, with Sleep Number’s SleepIQ®, you can be assured a peaceful night’s rest.

SleepIQ® technology allows you to track the quality of your sleep through Advanced DualAir™ technology. After your night’s sleep, you are able to view your restlessness, average heart rate, breathing rate, and sleep on your tablet or phone. The best part about it, all you have to do is sleep! Based on your sleep quality, SleepIQ® then provides tips for improving your night’s sleep. Talk about a helpful way to improve your sleep quality. 

What do you do for a better night’s sleep?