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As a self-proclaimed night owl, I was totally inspired to share my way of falling asleep after a recent Facebook discussion. While personally I always struggle the most whenever the hubs isn’t safely tucked next to me, we all have our different insomniac moments.
I have always been the person who likes staying up until the late hours of the night and sleeping in until 10 am. Thank goodness I am employed with an 8 to 5 job otherwise my already awful sleep habits would be totally atrocious! My husband says my sleep habits are great for the night watch on his sailing crew, but horrible for real life.
While my husband’s recent 10 month deployment was fantastic for many things (let’s just say my empire of rental houses went from 5 to 7) it was not great for my sleep habits. 4 am doesn’t work very well on a work night and I didn’t realize how hard it was to sleep without him until… well I did. I have learned the hard way that it makes for a pretty crappy morning.They key to solving your insomnia is finding what works best for you.
33 Tips to Help You Fall Asleep Quickly
Author’s Note: Some of these aren’t going to pertain to you or your beliefs. Everyone is in a different place in life. The goal is simply to provide a vast list with the hope that SOMETHING will work for you! This post contains affiliate links.
1. Meditation
I don’t use this but many people swear this helps settle their mind.
2. Melatonin
I use Zquil but many people love melatonin instead.
3. Z-Quil
I SWEAR by this stuff because this is how I survived my husband’s deployment. Without it, I never would have slept as well. I took it on my port calls, travels, etc. It helps me sleep at night, kick any jet lag, and so on. These are my magic pills that I can’t highly recommend enough. The best part is that I can buy them anywhere because they are over the counter.
4. Prescription Sleep Aids
While I personally love ZQuil some people need something a little or a lot stronger.
5. Essential Oils
My best friend in California is a Doterra representative. Her oils have been a huge blessing. While I could never tell you exactly what she uses, it is a miracle every time she applies them on me.
6. Warm Milk
I might sound like I am two, but I enjoy a good class of milk before bed. I have totally gone to bed with just a glass of milk during this past deployment. It’s a nice “food” that allows me to not go to bed hungry without having a lot of sugar or other sweets to keep me up before bed.
7. Don’t Eat Sugar Before Bed
In college, I use to eat candy to stay awake. Now I notice that when I have had sugar in the evening it keeps me up. I try to limit all my sugar before bed time.
8. Limit Your Caffeine Intake Later at Night
I have had to learn to drink milk instead of hot chocolate or soda in the evening. Anything with caffeine keeps me up at night.
9. Sleepy Time Tea
This is an awesome tea. I totally use it and LOVE it. It is a great option and a great way to unwind before bed, especially if your not in the mood for hot milk or simply not a milk girl.
10. Camomile
Honestly, I prefer Sleepy Time Tea, but this is another great tea option.
11. Wine
Moscato is my favorite type of wine. Personally, I cannot drink wine before bed because it makes me have a restless sleep. However, I know that many people swear by it and they use it in the same way that I use Z-quil.
12. Hot Shower
A huge part of my bed time routine is a hot shower. Even when the husband is home if I do not have a hot shower I cannot fall asleep.
13. Bubble Bath
I use to love a good old fashioned bath as a kid. Now I am shower girl but baths are still an amazing second option during a time of stress.
14. Fan
Personally, I do not like fans blowing on me. I don’t even have a ceiling fan on at night, however I know many people have recommend fans to help cover the squeaking and creaking of a house.
15. Noise Machine
Personally, a noise machine annoys the heck out of me. Again, I know a lot of friends who swear by them and say it helps their kids tremendously.
16. Ear Plugs
Honestly, I don’t like ear plugs. Even when I am out on the runway watching the hubby fly, they drive me nuts. On the other hand, I know a few people including family who love that it “dulls” the noise, but doesn’t completely quiet it. This way they can hear anything urgent, but it doesn’t let them hear all the squeaks.
17. Noise Cancelling Head Phones
I bought my husband a pair of noise canceling head phones when he left for deployment. He LOVED the pair I bought him. Of course I am a bad wife and have no idea what I bought him, but he was totally in love.
18. Dark Room
I have to have the entire house dark. No lights on anywhere in the house or I cannot sleep. Part of my routine is to make sure that the house is completely dark with no lights on.
19. Alarm System
Many people install an alarm system in their home whether it’s ADT or the new wireless system that you can move from area to area. Personally, I have been too cheap to install one, but I have had two of my tenants install them with my permission.
20. Bedtime Security Routine
I always check that everything is locked up tight. This way I am not fretting that something is left on right as I am falling asleep causing me to wake up again.
21. Eliminate Electronics with a Backlight
I am totally guilty of falling asleep with my computer or phone on and active. I have heard a lot of people recommend terminating these electronics hours beforehand as the light interferes with sleep.
22. Address Your Fears and Eliminate Them
When I am stressed about a particular problem I like to write down my solution. By thinking it out, coming up with a solution, and writing it down it eliminates my constant worrying about it.
23. Will Paperwork and Life Insurance
One of the reasons I sleep horribly when my husband is gone is due to the fact that my husband’s job has a less than stellar track record. I am always worried whenever he is doing a dangerous combat mission or even just flying. As awful as this sounds, being prepared makes me feel better because I know I am not tempting Murphy’s Law.
24. Write Down Your “Don’t Forgets”
One of the reasons I have trouble sleeping is all my ideas come pouring in. I forget all of my “don’t forgets,” blog ideas, and more so I have learned to keep a pad of paper at the bedside to help me write all of it down. This way I don’t forget them and I can relax and get to sleep.
25. Eliminate Scary TV from Night Time Routine
I am totally guilty of watching Special Victim’s Unit or Criminal Minds and then being up all night. I’ve learned to try to keep it PG right before bed.
26. Don’t Take Late Naps
One of the ways that used to help me stay up late was to take a 5-7 pm nap. Naturally I would be able to stay up all night. So to ensure that I get a good night’s rest I try to make sure I don’t take a late nap.
27. Don’t Go to Bed Too Early
I have been totally guilty of going to bed too early. I am falling sleep too early and then I am not able to sleep through the night.
28. Kids and/or Animals Sleep in the Room
I don’t have children, but I know my cat snuggling up to me really helps. She makes the room less scary and alone.
29. Wear Yourself Out
Personally, I like to wear myself out. I will do a project, go for a run, work on my blog and so on. I try to do something engaging either physically or mentally to make sleep extra appealing.
30. Late Night Texts
I get really stressed at night so its alway been amazing to have a friend I can text and talk to.
31. Gun
While I don’t feel comfortable having one in my houses, I know many spouses feel much more comfortable having one in the house.
32. Taser
This is another one of those things that I don’t have in my house, but many spouses swear by.
33. Music
I often listen to worship or non-jazzy music. Positive, low stress, low energy music that helps me wind down for the day. I know over deployment the simple act of cutting out the jazz, pop and crazy music helped me tremendously.
While nothing is better than having your partner safe and sound next to you or whatever is keeping you up at night, hopefully these tips and tricks will help you get a better night’s sleep and hep you you fall asleep quickly. I know life always seems better when I am well rested no matter what the day throws at me.
What tricks have you learned over the years to sleep better at night by yourself?
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