How to manage stress and anxiety for better sleep
Aug 8
3 min read
Noting is more crucial for a productive day and a healthy lifestyle than getting a good night's sleep every night. Whilst some people may fall asleep before hitting the bed some might find it very challenging to do so, especially those suffering from chronic stress and anxiety.
PsychCentral states that stress and anxiety might be more common at night because that is the time where things are quieter and there are less distractions to keep our minds occupied.
Ways to improve sleep and sleep better
In today's modern society, more and more people report feeling anxious before bed. This is due in part because our perpetual more demanding environment, infinitively more distractions that compete for our waking time, making it more enticing to stay awake for longer, instead of going to sleep.
Unable to sleep due anxiety?
Remember to always consult your doctor or certified physician is you are unable to sleep due to anxiety. The information presented in this blog and on this website is purely informative and it solely represents what works and had worked for us in the past. Because no humans are the same, please consult your doctor before making any changes to your sleep and eating habits. That being said, let's see what some good ways are of dealing with anxiety before bed
Anxiety won't let me sleep
Feeling sleepless at night because anxiety won't let you sleep, here are some good ways you can combat the negative aspects of anxiety and get back to rejuvenating and restful sleep:
Understand the Stress-Sleep Connection
First of all, you must understand the sleep-stress connection, anxiety and stress bring the primarily two factors keeping us awake at night, not being able to fall asleep straight away. Hormones like cortisol are produced every time you are stressed, be it because of anxiety or other stressors. These otherwise healthy hormones, keep you alert, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Anxiety can lead to racing thoughts that will most likely prevent your mind to relax in order to fall asleep.
2. Establish a Calming Bedtime Routine
We have explored the importance of a consistent sleep schedule and it's importance to a good night's sleep in a previous article. In summary, there are a handful of good habits you can implement into your daily life in order to enhance both the quality of your sleep and the time required for your body to fall asleep. Here are some keynotes:
Set a Regular Schedule
Limit Screen Time
Wind Down Before Bed
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Doing just these four deeds and activities before bed can greatly improve the quality of your sleep.
3. Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment
In one of our past articles, entitled: How to optimize your sleep environment for better sleep we have discussed at length what are the best practices you can undertake in order to optimize your sleep environment and make it the perfect precursor for sleep. Here are just for tips for greatly improving your sleeping environment:
Invest in Comfortable Bedding
Keep It Cool (adjust the room temperature to what feels optimal for you)
Minimize Noise
Darken the Room
These tips and recommendations for better sleep might seem obvious, but you will be surprised how many people do not follow them.
4. Be Mindful of Your Diet and Hydration
Our last sleep related article before this one spoke about diet and hydration for better sleep: diet and sleep quality. There, we discussed the importance of proper hydration and the correlations between diet, hydration and sleep. Here are just some dietary considerations for better sleep and nutrition:
Stay Hydrated Wisely and don't overdo it
Limit Stimulants like caffeine and tobacco
Moderate or Limit Alcohol Consumption
Light Evening Snacks
Following just those little tips and tricks can do wonders in your pursuance to calm your stress and anxiety before sleep.
Other tips to limit anxiety while falling asleep
Incorporate Regular Exercise into your daily routine. A healthy body will be more resistant to the effects of stress and anxiety and there are also countless studies that show that regular exercise can decrease anxiety and stress on their own.
Practice Positive Thinking and Gratitude. Maintaining a positive vibe and cool mindset can do wonders with your overall health and lifestyle and may even help you reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Even more so, focusing on positive thoughts can help calm your mind and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep.
Seek Professional Support. As stated above, you should always seek professional support id you experience problems with sleeping or other health problems. We write here what works from us and this information should be consumed only for informative purposes. We are not doctors, dieticians or healthcare professionals.