Submitted by MelissaOrlov on 11/21/2019.
Our lives are busy and it can be really hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Here's a worksheet from my couples seminar on what you need to know..
The Bedroom Environment
Definitely do:
- Cool temperature
- Comfortable bedding – for some who are restless, this might included a weighted blanket
- Very dark room (or use comfortable eye shades) – minimize charger, computer, electronic lights. No blue or green lights (cover light indicator with black electrical tape if on a charger, etc.)
- No reading with electronic blue light (computers, tablets, etc.- use a blue light filter such as comes on your device or the app Twilight if you must use them)
Consider:
- Allergy reduction (particularly dust mites) with mattress and pillow covers, less carpeting
- White noise machine or calming noise
- Noise masking sleep buds, such as Bose, to block out snoring, traffic, etc.
Calming Your Mind and Body
Definitely do:
- Set a ‘window’ for getting to bed 85% of time (ex: 10:00-10:30pm).* Be as consistent as possible so your body learns the rhythm.
- Understand your transition. How long does it take you from the time you decide to go to bed before you actually get into it? Leave enough time for this routine.
- Take 2 minutes slow, deep breathing (focus on breath going in and out of your body) with feet on floor, eyes closed before getting into bed. This helps move your body into “rest and digest’ mode.
- Exercise, but not in the evening close to bed. (Rigorous daytime exercise aids sleep.)
- Make sure ADHD medications aren’t keeping you up (move latest dose earlier in day if they are)
- Keep a notepad and pen on your nightstand to capture ideas so they don’t keep you up
- Limit stimulating TV shows right before bed (also, light of TV suppresses melatonin)…turn TV off completely at least 45 minutes before lights out
Consider:
- Developing a short mindfulness meditation practice
- Listening to calming music or noises
- Doing a progressive muscle relaxation exercise (moving from toes to top of head, visualize relaxing one muscle at a time – eyes closed.)
- Visualizing a place you find relaxing.
- Taking 20 minutes before you start your going to bed routine to plan out the next day and lessen anxiety about it.
- If you take magnesium supplements, consider taking them before bed, as they can aid in sleep
Falling Asleep / Staying Asleep
Definitely do:
- Drink less alcohol, and not after 8pm (digests as sugar and wakes you up)
- Eat lighter dinners, and not after 8pm
- A few minutes of whatever slows your mind down (soft music, crosswords, reading a few pages – NOT online media – something non-anxiety producing and non-stimulating!)
- Use the power of cuddling and relaxing in your partner’s arms – touch can be a good soother.
- If you wake up in the middle of the night it may be a circadian rhythm issue (rather than really needing a bathroom break). Deep breathing before bed might help with this. Deep breathing when you wake up can also be helpful. In addition, one reason people can’t get back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of the night is anxiety about falling back to sleep. Instead of worrying about “oh, no, I might not be able to get back to sleep again!”, just relax into it and think, “this will pass.”
- Address a partner’s snoring. Ask your partner to try to lessen it (ex: sleep on side instead of back; drink less; get an evaluation for sleep apnea; use snore strips; get a formed pillow that holds the neck in a better position such as Dr. Bob’s pillow) and consider ear plugs or even moving to another room during snore fests.
Consider:
- Taking 3-5 mg of Melatonin
- Limiting afternoon caffeine (definitely do this if you think it’s keeping you awake!)
- Managing stimulant medications so that they don’t interfere with sleep – time you latest dose in the day so it wears off before 8:30pm
- Avoiding afternoon naps
- A stress management program if the level of stress in your life is keeping you awake at night
- Replacing coffee or other caffeinated beverages (or some of your coffee, if you drink many cups) with a high quality 120mg Ginko Biloba supplement – this sends incremental blood flow to the brain and may make you more alert. As with all additions of meds or supplements, double check your meds against this to make sure there are no known potential interactions.
Making Your Body Healthier for Sleep
Definitely do:
- Eat a healthy, veggie/lean protein diet with lots of fiber and probiotics to support good gut health (connected to good sleep)
- Lower your stress levels overall – stress hormones interrupt sleep
- Choose a bedtime that allows you to wake up without an alarm. If you can’t do, that, you should seek an earlier bedtime
*One way to determine what window is optimal for sleep is to track the quality of your sleep with an app or Fitbit over several weeks. It will likely show you a timeframe within which you get good quality sleep and the most of it. It will also likely show you the benefits of exercise for sleep if you are also tracking that.
I have found this useful in learning that I sleep better if I have lights out by 10:15pm than if I turn them out after 11pm. With the former I tend to get more REM and deep sleep minutes.
Revised 7-19
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Comments
Very dark room (or use
Submitted by AdeleS6845 on
Very dark room (or use comfortable eye shades) – minimize charger, computer, electronic lights. No blue or green lights (cover light indicator with black electrical tape if on a charger, etc.)
...Wish my fiance could fall asleep without the TV going. I sleep with an earplug in one ear as it is. (I'm deaf in my Left ear.) I'm tempted to buy a sleeping mask for my eyes. Although I do sleep with a night light on, the light from the TV bothers me sometimes.
*******************How about a partner that doesn't snore or talk in their sleep.
Very good list of helps...
Submitted by c ur self on
I do several of these...(ear plugs, white noise machine, no charger lights, very dark room, my bed vibrates on a timer, bed time needs to be when I get sleepy the first time, don't fight off sleep after 9 or 10 at night)
I would also add these few reminders about avoiding conflict and stressful interactions at night....
1) Never agree to a TV in the bedroom, if it keeps you awake....2) If you are in a difficult marriage (defiance, and difficulty w/ communication and agreement) never start or engage in conversations in the last hour or two leading up to bed time....3) Have mutual agreement (pre-planning) on intercourse times if you aren't both open, approachable, and available to one another....4) The earlier the better for intercourse, while energy levels are still high.....If your add partner struggles to fall asleep, they may find it easy to reneging on a promise or plan once they are sleepy....This is my experience....
c
I got mine to switch to
Submitted by Sollertiae on
I got mine to switch to podcasts/youtube - he needs the sound to still his brain, but at least this way there is no blue light/flashing and he can listen on his side with headphones, or away from me. Usually so boring I fall asleep, but it does make it easier to block with earplugs than a tv.
I find that if I am extremely
Submitted by Sollertiae on
I find that if I am extremely anxious (medical reasons) that some form of evening exercise done not too close to sleep will burn off some of the adrenalin. That way I can focus on meditation and not getting anxious.
Admittedly, due to my natural circadian rhythms never being right for daylight exercising in the early part of the day sends me to sleep, so probably not good advice for anyone who doesn't have to fight tooth and nail to maintain a sleep pattern appropriate for work hours! On that note, natural light exposure on waking is important for good sleep hygiene, just as darkness is for sleep.