Things to Help Me Sleep

Here are the things I do to help me sleep:

• Watching a show. Big Bang Theory usually helps me sleep. I need to “watch” a show that doesn’t keep me so engaged that it keeps me up, or where I have to keep my eyes open to know what’s going on. The show just has to help me shut my brain off from thinking.
• Delta sleep waves on YouTube
• Insight Timer sleep meditation app
• Toe separators to relax my feet. Remember to set a 15 minute timer so you don’t fall asleep with them on your toes
• Flip upside down so you’re head is by the footboard
• Are you hungry? You can’t sleep if you’re hungry
• Take Zyrtec. If something is triggering your allergies, it makes you feel agitated and high strung.
• Move to the couch
• Are your feet cold? I can’t sleep if my feet are cold
• Neck stretcher. I need a new one of these. I used to use it all the time and I would fall asleep on it but it broke
• Accupressure mat. I haven’t used this in a long time. Works best without shirt
• Herbal Innovations sleep tea – I drank this for the first time in a long time last night and I had the best sleep. 2 hours and 43 minutes of deep sleep and plenty of REM. I haven’t slept this well in a long time

Other things to try:

• Lavender pillow spray.  I have this but haven’t tried it again in a long time. I don’t think it made much of a difference but willing to give it another try.
• Essential oils

Chiropractic Care

Another note is the best I’ve slept in for an extended duration was when I was seeing the chiropractor last year. Dr. John Paul worked on my neck and shoulders a lot. I was going 2-3x per week. I also wasn’t running at the time because I was injured (lower left back and right glute). I was getting 8+ hours of good sleep during that time. I was about 2 month into treatment when I started sleeping better.

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash