Disclaimer: As a member of the Vicks® Ambassador Network, I will be sharing stories and tips related to their products and have received compensation. As always, I believe in honest storytelling as it relates to working with brands, and the opinions expressed in these posts belong to me and aren’t influenced in any way.
Living a healthier lifestyle, eating better, writing more, and spending time on my hobbies are all wonderful resolutions that I have as goals for 2016. But a huge issue that many of us have may not be on our list, and that is one of getting more sleep. As working parents who are busy navigating our careers, taking care of our families, and running our homes, sleep is often something that we don’t get enough of. Lack of sleep can cause weight gain, higher stress, and other negative health attributes that aren’t good for us, so we all need to make sure we are getting enough rest so we can be prepared to be our best each and every day. As a Vicks® Ambassador Network member, I am sharing 4 tips to help you resolve to sleep better:
Set Bedtime
Having a set bedtime each night can help train your body to get into sleep mode regularly. When your body clock is synched, it will do the work for you by preparing you for bed physically. This will help you slow down and get sleepy so that you can get the rest you need. We give our kids’ bedtimes for the very same reason—because we want them to get the proper rest. We must also do the same.
It is recommended that you get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, so when creating your bedtime schedule, make sure that you are incorporating enough time so you can sleep better and be healthier.
Go Dark & Power Down
One to two hours before bed, you should power down your devices and turn off your television. This also helps your body prepare for rest, as the bright light of your tablet, laptop, phone, and other devices can keep you in work mode and make it hard for you to relax and rest. Get in the habit of powering down all of your tech gadgets—those status updates and emails will be there when you wake up in the morning.
No Caffeine
Caffeinated drinks such as soda, coffee, and tea have the opposite effect of helping you prepare to sleep better. Caffeine keeps you up and in an active state, which is hard to come down from when you are about to go to bed. Just say no to caffeinated drinks after 6pm each night, or at least three to four hours before your planned bedtime so that your body shift to sleep mode.
Lavender
Lavender is a proven sleep inducer, and when inhaled, helps the mind shift to a rest and relaxation state that is important for preparing for sleep. A few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow at night can help your body get the rest it needs.
You can also use ZzzQuil to help you get a good night’s rest. ZzzQuil is a non-habit-forming sleep-aid for the relief of occasional sleeplessness that can help you fall asleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed. Learn more by visiting Vicks.com.
Put into use these tips to help you sleep better and get more rest. Here’s to a wonderful 2016.
Make sure to join the ZzzQuil Twitter Chat at 8pm-9pm EST on Tuesday, 1/5. Get advice on how to get off to the right start for 2016.
As a hypnotherapist I would also recommend using a relaxtion or hypnosis audio before bed to help you wind down. Another tip that I give my clients is to actually go to bed later rather than earlier. Many insomniacs go to bed too early to try and make up for the sleep that they think they have lost but as they are generally not tired enough they can’t fall asleep.