15 Foolproof Tricks to Sleeping More

Hey y’all…some of this…okay, most of it…alright, all of this makes sense even if I don’t follow all of it.     But if you share this with the ‘wrong’ person or they happen to read this…and want to implement all or some...just don’t shoot the messenger!

15. Why You Need More Sleep

Catching more z's isn't just about waking up refreshed in the morning. Sleep deprivation has very real consequences. People who don't get enough sleep increase their risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Sleep deprivation doesn't just affect your body. It can make you a little crazy too. When you're sleep deprived, you're mood is lousy and you're less alert.

 

14. You Need a Bed Time

Bed times aren't just for little kids. A set sleep time is an important part of regulating your sleep cycle. The routine will let your body know when it's time to wind down and go to sleep. 

We are all ruled by a biological clock. When that clock knows that it's time to go to bed, it starts to wind down. Your energy levels drop, your eyes droop and you start to crave the pillow.
 

13. Start a Bedtime Routine

Start your bedtime routine at the same time every day. Go to bed at 10pm every night? Make sure to start your routine at 9:30. If getting to sleep is really hard for you, extend your routine to an hour. Your body will have that much time to wind things down before you hit the sack.

 

12. Make It Dark

The best thing for sleep is darkness. We're diurnal animals, we sleep when it's dark. Blacking out your room is a great way to trigger your body to get sleepy. During the day, turn the lights off and shut the blinds. Where is light coming in? Black out curtains are a great way to keep out the glow of street lights. Turn out the hallway light to eliminate the glow from under the door.
 

11. Try Reverse Psychology

Does your brain rebel when you tell it to go to sleep? Try telling it to get up. Think of something that you could get up and do. Then tell yourself you'll do it in five minutes. More often than not, you'll get a timely dose of sleep procrastination. Instead of avoiding sleep, your mind will want to avoid whatever tedious thing you've thought up.

 

10. Yawn

Yawning works best when you're already in bed. Lay down, snuggle up and assume the sleep position. Now try and yawn. Close your eyes, open your mouth wide and draw a deep breath. Fake a few if you have to until the real ones come on. Keep this up for five minutes and you'll be counting sheep in no time.

 

9. Put On Socks

It's hard to fall asleep if you're too cold. Blanket not keeping you warm enough? It's time to put on some socks. Warm up your feet and your body will follow suit. Find a thick pair of socks and slide them on. They'll keep you warm even if you're not into thick pajamas.
 

8. Give Yourself a Massage

It's one of the most relaxing things on earth. Rub oil into your hands and then all over your body. If you're going to bed with someone else, take turns massaging each other. On a hot night, the evaporating oil will help cool you off. For the best results, choose scented oil. After your relaxing massage, you'll breathe it in. When paired with your soothed muscles, it will help you get right to sleep.
 

7. Turn Your Brain Down

An hour before bed, it's time to get your brain ready. Teach it to stop thinking to much by stopping all brain activity. Don't blog, Google, check your e-mail or do anything that requires your brain. The idea is that it will eventually get bored and go to sleep.
 

6. Exercise

Excess energy may be keeping you up at night. Burn it off with exercise. Studies show that people who exercise a few times a week sleep better. The best time to hit the gym is in the morning. After an aerobic workout, you'll get an endorphin boost. That will give you the energy you need to get through the day.
 

5. Clean Your Room

What does cleaning have to do with sleep? A clean room is a sign of a restful mind. Tidy your room and you may give your brain license to rest. Start cleaning early in the day when you've got the time. Put everything in it's place. Clear the surfaces, fold your clothes and clean the floor. When it's time to go to bed, you'll feel a new sense of relaxation.

 

4. Make Lists

When your mind isn't ready to sleep, it goes into overdrive. Old worries, missed assignments and other annoyances start popping into your mind. To stop thinking about these things, write them down in a list. Getting it down on paper will put your mind at ease. Now that the thoughts are there to look at in the morning, your mind can relax and go to sleep.
 

3. Keep Your Bedroom Cold

The natural human response to cold is to bed down. Snuggling up conserves heat. Plus the prospect of confronting the cold air will make you loathe to get out of bed. And don't worry about being reluctant to get out of bed in the morning. You'll be on the other side of a full night's sleep. Your body clock will wake you up enough to get you out of bed to turn the temperature back up.
 

2. Stretch

Ever notice how stretching and yawning just seem to go together? A recent study has found that women who stretched at least four times a week had better sleep.
For the best results, stretch before bed. Stand up straight and reach for the sky. Stretch your sides by bending side to side. Stretch your legs like you're preparing for a workout.
Now climb into bed. You'll find that it's much easier to fall asleep when your muscles are relaxed.
 

1. Give Up

You've been lying in bed awake for at least an hour. Sleep just isn't coming. What do you do now? Get up and go do something. If you can't fall asleep, get up and make your waking hours count. Get a head start on tomorrow's work. Clean the house a bit. You may not get any sleep tonight, but you will tomorrow.
 

Courtesy of  Randomly Funny $tuff