10 Tips to Get You to Bed at a Reasonable Hour

Can’t Get to Sleep on Time? It happens to everybody now and then, especially if you’re starting a new job or if you’re under a lot of stress. Or maybe you’re having just too much fun at night to get yourself into bed at a reasonable hour. But not getting enough sleep isn’t good for your health or safety, and studies have shown that driving while exhausted is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

So if you need to get a good night’s sleep, here are ten tips to help you.

Set an Alarm. If you wear a digital wrist watch, set an alarm for about a half hour before you need to go to bed. This reminder will help you start winding down your evening. If you don’t wear a watch, try a simple egg timer, and keep it by the television or by whatever else is keeping you up at night. Using it will help you get into the routine of going to bed at a set time.

Have a Fun Book to Read. Some people are so busy that staying up late is the only way they feel they can get a little time to themselves. Well, instead of spending that time on the couch in front of the television, or glued to your computer screen, make sure to have a good book on your bedside table. It will lure you to get upstairs and into your pajamas at an earlier hour, and it will help get you absorbed in someone else’s problems – not your own. Consider it a form of self-bribery to get into bed. Just be careful that you don’t read more than a few pages a night. Staying up for hours because you can’t put a book down isn’t going to help!

Make a List. If you can’t get to sleep at night, and you find yourself tossing and turning, it may be because you’re going over everything you have to get done the next day. Get a pad and a pencil, write down everything you’re trying to drill into your head so that you won’t forget it, and then put it out of your mind. The list will be there in the morning, and you can obsess about it in the shower or while getting dressed.

Melatonin. When Melatonin works, it’s nothing short of miraculous. Within a half hour of taking the supplement, your eyelids may begin to literally droop. It will put you into a deep sleep during which you may experience vivid dreams. You’ll wake up with the sun, completely refreshed and ready to start the day. Some people report that they wake up naturally minutes before their alarm clock goes off. It also boosts daytime alertness, and prevents you from feeling sleepy again until bedtime.

Warm Milk. If you don’t want to take a Melatonin supplement, this old-fashioned remedy may do the trick. Drinking a glass of warm milk 15 minutes before going to bed may soothe your nervous system, because in addition to containing tryptophan and melatonin, it also contains calcium, which works directly on your nerves and helps you relax.

Make Your Bed Every Day. Slipping into a smooth bed with crisp linens and blankets already arranged the way they should be, will help you sleep more soundly. Who wants to collapse on a wad of crumpled sheets? A made bed will make for a more romantic bedroom, look more inviting and may encourage you to get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Use Silky Sheets Spray Talc. For about $9 or less, you can pick up a canister of this revolutionary spray talc. When used on the bed, it gives the luxurious feel of satin to your sheets. The cool, silky feel against your legs and body is decadent enough, especially in the summer. But the scent is also intoxicating. Made with pheremones, the romantic fragrance will permeate your bedroom and leave you feeling relaxed and receptive. As the temperature outside rises this summer, you’ll be glad for the extra comfort of non-sticky sheets. Give it a try!

Get a Sleep Mask. It may be that unwanted light is what’s keeping you up, and getting in the way of a good night’s sleep. By using a sleep mask, you can block out the moonlight filtering in through your window, or the glow of the television if your partner is still watching it. By surrounding your eyes in darkness, it may also trigger the release of your body’s natural Melatonin hormone, and help you sleep more soundly.

Take an Aspirin. It may be that minor aches and pains are keeping you awake. The mild pain relief you’ll find from a single aspirin may be enough to relax you and allow you to fall asleep. Aspirin isn’t great on the stomach over the long haul, however, so if you’re going to take aspirin regularly, you may wish to look into a low-dosage pill available for those who have heart problems.

Buy a New Pillow. It may simply be that the pillow you have isn’t supporting your head and neck properly. Pillows compact over time, and collect allergens. If your pillow no longer fits into a nice, rectangular, pillow-shape, it’s a good indication that you should buy a new one. Pillows can be had inexpensively, and may make all the difference in getting you to sleep at night.