23 Science-Backed Tips for Deeper, More Restful Sleep

Heather Dessinger

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how to sleep better

Inside: 23 science-backed sleep tips for deeper, more restful zzz’s that work even if you have kids! 

Have you ever woken up with an “aha” solution to a problem? If so, you’re not alone. Dreams are linked to some of the most important breakthroughs in history, including the Theory of Relativity, the shape of DNA, and countless inventions. 

Of course, sleep is more than just an “aha” generator.

In our daily lives, studies show that good sleep makes us smarter, happier, more productive, more creative, and it even keeps us looking younger. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Unfortunately for most of us, getting good sleep (and enough of it) can be challenging to say the least.

Maybe, like me, you went into the whole parenting gig thinking that the phrase “sleep like a baby” indicated actual sleep was going to be had by all. (Nope.)

So how do we get deep, restorative zzz’s when circumstances are not ideal? As a mama of three, I’ve done quite a bit of research on this subject, and my entire family’s sleep quality has improved as I’ve implemented what I’ve learned. 

Here’s what I’ve found most helpful:

1. Get Sunlight First Thing In The Morning ^

Our circadian rhythms – which orchestrate the ebb and flow of cortisol and melatonin – are tied to light and darkness. Cortisol helps us get going in the morning, and melatonin tells our body when it’s time to wind down for bed. Problem is, most of us are out of sync.

To get our internal clock back on track, we need to spend 15-30 minutes in bright sunlight early in the morning. In one study, workers who got regular sunlight tended to be more physically active during the day and got more sleep at night. They were also found to be generally happier and reported fewer health problems.

Although the workers in that particular study got light throughout the entire day, other research indicates that early morning light produces the best effects. (7) (8)

sleep-tips-3

Sleep Hack #1: Indoor Bright Light

If you don’t roll out of bed, yawn daintily like Julie Andrews, and then go out in your front yard to sing about how the hills are alive with the sound of music, that’s okay. You can still get the mood and sleep supporting benefits of early morning light.

These days my schedule allows for an early morning walk, but a few years ago going outside for 15-30 minutes of sun just wasn’t practical for my family most mornings. To get the benefits of early morning light I bought a daylight lamp and put it on the kitchen table while my kids worked on art projects or homeschool assignments.

phillips-wakeup-light

Another option is this wakeup light, which simulates sunrise in your bedroom. It was developed by Phillips, who:

carried out extensive research with leading light therapy experts into the relationship between light and well-being. That research showed a positive correlation between dawn simulation and how people feel when they wake up. Waking up to gradual light, like a sunrise, is hard-wired into the human brain.

As light falls on a person’s eyes, a message is sent to their brain that stimulates production of cortisol, known as the energy hormone. Waking up to dawn simulation has also been proven to help keep a person’s internal body clock in sync. It helps to regulate our circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep and reduced stress levels – unlike waking up in the dark to a sudden noise like a traditional alarm clock.” (9)

blue-light-blocking-glasses

2. Avoid Blue Light At Night ^

We need sunlight during the day to keep our circadian rhythm on the right track, but sunlight at night? Now, that’s just downright confusing  to our bodies.

Unfortunately, computer screens, TVs, smartphones and even regular light bulbs emit blue light, which the body perceives like sunlight. According to some studies, blue light exposure after sundown can suppress the release of melatonin, which is the hormone that tells our body it’s time for bed.

That’s not all it does, though. In addition to signaling when it’s time to sleep, this hormone also:

  • Regulates immune function (10)
  • Supports cardiovascular health (11)
  • Is produced in the gut as well as the brain, where it may help regulate a unique, gut-specific circadian rhythm (12)

Unfortunately, although melatonin supplements may have some benefits they also have potential side effects, especially when used long-term. One expert called their use with children “rather alarming” due to the potential for long-term effects. You can read more about melatonin supplements for sleep here.

But what’s that – you’re not ready to give up screen time after the kids go to bed? Yeah, me neither, and for that matter I’m not going to turn off all the lights and sit in darkness either. 

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce blue light exposure anyway, and research has shown them to be very effective. (13) (14)

Sleep Hack #2: Block The Blue

Here are three tips for reducing blue light at night:

Bright light suppresses more melatonin than low level light, so dim the lights in your house around sunset. I also dim my computer screen, but that’s optional.

To block blue light coming from ambient lights or a TV screen, consider wearing amber-hued glasses at night. Here are a few of my favorite options:

Install F.lux. It’s a free software that removes blue hues from your computer screen at night. 

Add an Ocushield screen filter – Apply this transparent film onto your device’s screen like you would a screen protector, only this one blocks up to 90% of blue light emissions. And unlike apps and ‘night mode’ settings, Ocushield doesn’t change the color on your screen. It’s an accredited Class 1 medical device by the MHRA in the UK. 

Shop Ocushield here.

sleep tips magnesium

3. Optimize Your Levels Of This “Magic Mineral” ^

Sleep problems can be a symptom of magnesium deficiency. We’re not exactly sure why, but we do know that this “miracle mineral” relaxes achy muscles, and calms the mind by assisting with the production of the neurotransmitter GABA and mitigates the effects of stress, so that may be part of it.

This study also suggests that magnesium may improve sleep quality by increasing melatonin levels and decreasing cortisol levels.

How To Improve Your Magnesium Levels

The best way to get magnesium is through food, because whole foods come with cofactors that help with nutrient absorption. Unfortunately, due to soil depletion and factors such as stress which increase our need for magnesium, it’s difficult to get all we need from food.

Here’s a guide to magnesium supplementation and here’s a bath salt recipe that can help improve levels.

organix mattress intellibed review

4. Sleep On A Good Mattress ^

Obviously, right? But seriously, this makes a huge difference. 

When we sleep on an uncomfortable bed it creates pressure on our hips, back, and shoulders, and we have to move frequently to redistribute our weight. If we don’t, areas under pressure lose circulation and tissue gets damaged. According to the Mayo Clinic, ”Bedsores — also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers — are injuries to skin and underlying tissue resulting from prolonged pressure on the skin.”

Obviously, our bodies do whatever it takes to prevent this damage from happening. Since we don’t typically move around while remaining in Stage 3 and 4 sleep, we have to come up out of that deep, restorative sleep back into lighter sleep to shift our weight. These “micro-arousals” may inhibit or stop the release of human growth hormone during deep sleep. (15)

In other words, frequently shifting our weight during sleep may prevent us from getting adequate amounts of deep, restorative sleep.

My favorite non-toxic mattress company has solved this problem by creating a mattress that is both soft (for pressure relief) and firm (for proper spinal alignment). I know, it’s always been an either/or choice, but their solution is the real deal.

Click here to read about why I love IntelliBED. Also, My Green Mattress also makes handcrafted, affordable mattresses with organic materials. I got one for my youngest son and it’s super comfy. You can read more about My Green Mattress here.

5. Give Aromatherapy A Try ^

In this small study, lavender essential oil placed in an essential oil diffuser improved quality of sleep for participants. In this study, it increased deep, slow-wave sleep in both men and women. 

Here are a few popular essential oil blends that were created to support restful sleep: 

  • Sleep Aid Synergy with lavender, mandarin, ylang ylang, valerian root, and neroli
  • Sleep Tight with lavender, mandarin, ylang ylang, neroli and hops extract
  • Sweet Dreams for Kids with sweet orange, juniper, coriander, blue tansy and rose absolute 
  • Nighty Night for Kids with lavender, sweet marjoram, mandarin, cedarwood atlas, patchouli, clary sage, Roman chamomile and blue tansy
  • Sweet Slumber for Kids with Himalayan cedarwood, Ho wood oil, sweet orange, Roman chamomile and vetiver 

When diffusing essential oils, a good rule of thumb is diffuse for 30-60 minutes, then take an hour off, then repeat if desired. Many diffusers have a timer that you can set to shut off automatically. 

This diffuser has an interval mode that allows it to run 10 minutes on/20 minutes off for up to 21 hours. Click here to discover more uses for lavender essential oil.

Woman sitting in bed with book and weighted blanket over her legs

6. Try A Weighted Blanket ^

Research shows that weighted blankets improve sleep quality, reduce stress, improve daytime focus and mood, and ease symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder.

Here’s how they work, and how to choose the right one for you.

Health Benefits of Grounding (Earthing)

7. Get Grounded ^

A practice called “grounding” or “earthing” is thought to help regulate our hormonal ebbs and flows with a mechanism similar to early morning light. In a study conducted by Ghalv, M.D. and Dale Teplitz, M.A, earthing reduced overall levels of cortisol and fine-tuned the secretion cycle so that levels were highest in the early morning, which is when it’s most needed.

To practice earthing, all you need to do is go outside and walk barefoot on grass, soil or sand . Read more about it here.

Another similar practice – forest bathing – has been shown to significantly increase sleep time. Here’s how to do it.

8. Set A Caffeine Curfew (And Stick To It) ^

Sip that cuppa joe (with 200mg of caffeine) at 3pm, and chances are pretty good that 100mg will still be active in your system at 9pm. Everyone metabolizes caffeine at a different rate, so do some experimenting and find out when your cutoff point should be. (16)

9. Avoid Light Pollution ^

We now know that our skin senses light in ways we used to think only the eyes could, so light can disrupt our circadian rhythm even when we’re wearing a mask.

Blackout curtains can reduce or eliminate light pollution, and they don’t just come in black. Check out some of the colors that are available here.

Also make sure to cover any lights on your alarm clock or other electronic devices.

10. Chill Out ^

“’When you go to sleep, your set point for body temperature — the temperature your brain is trying to achieve — goes down,’ says H. Craig Heller, PhD, professor of biology at Stanford University, who wrote a chapter on temperature and sleep for a medical textbook. ‘Think of it as the internal thermostat.’ If it’s too cold . . . or too hot, the body struggles to achieve this set point.” (17)

Experts say the ideal sleep environment for most people is between 65-72F, so find what works for you. I recommend wearing loose, light pajamas to bed so you don’t overheat.

However, if you find that you’re having trouble sleeping because your feet are cold, put on a pair of warm socks. 

According to this article, research shows that as you get sleepy, your “body’s temperature regulation system redistributes heat from your core to your extremities. Having cold feet demands more from this system and upsets the natural release of melatonin, a hormone related to a proper sleep-wake cycle.”

11. Let The List Go (Just For A Little While) ^

If you feel overwhelmed by “to do” lists or other distractions at night, a handful of studies show that meditation and/or relaxation may help you let go and relax. 

I’ve found deep breathing throughout the day to be helpful, and I also love to listen to relaxing music and/or podcasts while winding down at night.

12. Flex Your Muscles ^

Though it can take up to four months, one study found that regular exercise may lengthen the amount of time we sleep while and improve overall sleep quality. (18) 

Based on their findings, I aim for 30 minutes at least three or four times a week.

13. Sip Don’t Slurp ^

Though alcohol can sometimes help with falling asleep, it actually hurts overall sleep quality by disrupting normal sleep patterns. (19)

Researchers are not exactly sure why that is, but some theorize that it has to do with the inhibition of melatonin secretion and/or its ability to cause spikes in blood sugar that jolt us wide awake at 2am.

Whatever the reason, if I opt for natural wine or hot buttered rum, I make sure to enjoy it early in the evening so that it doesn’t interfere with my sleep. And of course, I sip rather than slurp.

14. Try Pink Noise ^

White noise machines create a “wall of sound” that drowns out annoying noises like traffic and dogs barking, but  according to Scientific American it may have a downside. I wrote all about it here, but the gist is this:

  • White noise uses static to block other sounds, but since people find static annoying nature sounds (rain, waves, etc.) are layered over the static. Even though we don’t notice the static, it contains a large range of  frequencies, including high-pitched ones that are stressful to the body. 
  • Pink noise is similar to white noise, but it filters out the harsh frequencies and only uses deeper, slower frequencies. 

Researchers think pink noise may help with sleep because the “steady drone of pink noise slows and regulates your brain waves, which is a hallmark of super-restful sleep.” (20)

In this German study, “pink noise appeared to prolong deep sleep and to increase the size of the subject’s brain waves during that period, as evinced by their EEGs.” 

According to the writeup, “The slow brain waves that characterize deep sleep are implicated in information processing and memory formation, and sure enough, on the mornings after those brain waves appeared to have been enhanced, the participants remembered a higher number of word pairs (an average of 22, as opposed to 13).”

In another study conducted by Jue Zhang, Ph.D., an associate professor at China’s Peking University, “An impressive 75% of study participants reported more restful sleep when exposed to pink noise. When it came to brain activity, the amount of “stable sleep”—the most restful kind—increased 23% among the nighttime sleepers exposed to pink noise, and more than 45% among nappers.” (20)

How To Incorporate Pink Noise For Deep Sleep

Because of all the research on pink sleep, several white noise devices now offer pink noise settings, too. Here are some of them.

  • LectroFan EVO – Comes with white, pink and brown noise (which is beneficial like pink noise but deeper) and ocean sounds. 
  • Honeywell Dreamweaver Sleep Fan – This machine generates pink noise and can be used as a fan (with airflow) or just as a sound generator (no airflow).

15. Take A Warm Bath ^

While our bodies are designed to sleep best in a relatively cool environment (usually 65-72F), a warm bath or shower before bed can a facilitate good night’s sleep.

When your core temperature drops at night, it triggers the release of melatonin and signals to the brain, ‘Time to get sleepy.’ ‘A hot-water immersion will cause blood flow to the extremities (notice how your skin gets flushed after a Jacuzzi or a sauna?) and away from your vital organs, lowering your core body temperature and encouraging sleepiness.” Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., author of The Power of When.

According to this study, a hot bath taken 1.5 hours before bed decreased sleep fragmentation in older adults with sleep challenges.

moon milk recipes

16. Brew Sleepy Tea ^

Brew up a relaxing herbal tea like chamomile or kava kava, which studies suggest may help with falling asleep. (21) (22) Researchers also found lavender tea to be helpful for improving sleep in new moms.

Here are some recipes to try: 

17. Respect The 10-2 Window ^

I recently heard Dr. Alan Christianson – author of the The Adrenal Reset Diet – say at a small gathering that our bodies are hardwired to do most of their intensive healing/repair work between the hours of 10pm-2am. This may be because in more primitive environments, this window of time is the safest for us to be out of commission.

Remember, we don’t move in the deeper stages of sleep, so we’re more vulnerable, so in natural environments it’s probably best to get that kind of sleep out of the way while predators are still groggy from waking up for their “day,.” That way, we’re more alert when predators are fully awake and prowling, so we can run away if needed.

Another interesting phenomenon Dr. Christianson mentioned is the second wind. If you’ve ever had a day so exhausting that you’re ready to fall asleep at 6pm, but then somehow you start scanning social media and – BOOM – it’s 10:30 and you’re still wide awake.

According to Dr. Christianson, chances are that your body released hormones intended for intensive repair (aka beauty sleep), but because you hadn’t gone to bed yet you experienced it as an energy rush instead.

Now that I know about the second wind I try to avoid it, and I’ve noticed it makes a big difference for my adrenal health. I want all those lovely hormones to repair my body and help me feel good, not keep me up watching cat videos.

18. Turn Off Wifi At Night ^

In his book, Overpowered, Dr. Martin Blank of Columbia University argues that EMF exposure is having a profoundly negative effect on our bodies, especially when it come to DNA repair. Dr. Blank doesn’t recommend complete avoidance, but suggests instead that we take precautions with them just like we do with other activities – like wearing seat belts while driving.

Since much of our most important DNA repair activities happen while we sleep, it may be wise to turn off sources of intense EMF exposure during that time.

Note: In addition to turning off wifi, I would also keep cell phones out of the bedroom or in airplane mode.

red light therapy

19. Try Red Light Therapy ^

In this study, female athletes who received red light therapy at night had higher levels of melatonin than those who did not.

20. Fast 3 Hours Before Bed ^

According to Dr. Breus: “Eating within three hours of bedtime – late-night snacking – sends blood and heat to your core, which is a signal to the body to stay awake.” (19)

Avoiding meals and snacks close to bedtime may make it easier to fall asleep. Also this approach – often called intermittent fasting – has also been linked to: 

  • Improved metabolic function
  • Activated autophagy, which is what keeps our bodies from filling up with cellular “trash” (damaged mitochondria, free radicals, etc.)
  • Improved learning and memory
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Improved immune function

Click here to read more about the benefits of intermittent fasting and how to do it.

21. Try Savasana Pose ^

Relaxing yoga poses are correlated with higher levels of melatonin according to this study.

Here’s how to do savasana.

22. Meditate ^

The brain responds to calming practices by releasing melatonin, as is evidence by this study (and this one, and this one). 

I’m not great at meditating in the traditional sense, but my bedtime routine sometimes includes things that have a similar effect. Coloring, for example, can have a similar neurological effect to meditation/relaxation practices.

23. Drink Cherry Juice ^

According to one study, adults suffering from insomnia slept an average of 84 additional minutes after consuming tart cherry juice two times per day for two weeks. Some parents rave about cherry juice as a children’s sleep aid, including my friends Genevieve of Mama Natural and Cara of Health Home & Happiness.

Ideally, the cherry juice would be consumed during the day, not within the three-hour window before bed. (See #20 above.)

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

What tips and tricks for getting good quality sleep have you found most helpful?

woman sleeping peacefully on a bed

Sources:

1. Scientific American (2008) Sleep On It: How Snoozing Makes You Smarter

2. PBS (2012) Can Sleep Make You Smarter? 

3. BBC (2013) How Sleep Makes Your Mind More Creative

4. American Psychological Association (2014) Sleep Deprivation: More Sleep Would Make Most Americans Happier, Healthier and Safer

5. Stump, Scott (2013) “Nap Rooms” Encourage Sleeping On The Job To Boost Productivity

6. Harris, Shelby (2013) Sleep and Longevity: 5 Ways Sleep Keeps You Young

7. Northwestern University (2014) Morning Rays Keep Off The Pounds

8. Dodson, Ehren and Zee, Phyllis (NIH 2010) Therapeutics for Circadian Rhythm Disorders

9. Phillips Company. Waking Up To Sunrise

10. Carrilo-Vico, Antonio et. al. (2013) Melatonin: Buffering The Immune System

11. Zukiswa, Jiki et. al. (2018) Cardiovascular Benefits of Dietary Melatonin: A Myth or a Reality? 

12. Mukherjee, Sourav and Maitra, Saumen Kumar (2015) Gut Melatonin In Vertebrates: Chronobiology and Physiology

13. Burkhart, K and Phelps, JR (2009) Amber lenses to block blue light and improve sleep: a randomized trial

14. Sasseville, A et. al. (2006) Blue blocker glasses impede the capacity of bright light to suppress melatonin production

15. Cline, John (2010) The Mysterious Benefits of Deep Sleep.

16. Mandal, Ananya. Caffeine Pharmacology

17. WebMD. Can’t Sleep: Adjust The Temperature (Sleep Disorders)

18. New York Times (2013) How Exercise Can Help Us Sleep Better

19. Rupp, TL et. al. (2007) Evening alcohol suppresses salivary melatonin in young adults

20. Prevention (2012) The Noise That Will Help You Sleep Better

21. Srivastava, Janmejai et. al. (2010) Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future 

22. Shinomiya, K et. al. (2007) Effects of kava-kava extract on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats 

23. Breus, Michael (2016) The Power of When.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

47 thoughts on “23 Science-Backed Tips for Deeper, More Restful Sleep”

  1. I have the Phillips Wake-Up light, and I love it, but I have a question about the glowing numbers:

    What do you do about the light coming from the numbers on the face of the clock? I know it has a few brightness settings, but even on the lowest setting, it’s still a noticeable light when the room is dark.

    It seems a little hypocritical, if that’s the right word, to have black out curtains and put forth a lot of effort to have a pitch black room, when the time on my alarm clock is just glowing (albeit faintly) all through the night.

    I have noticed that the numbers are orange/pinkish, so maybe they don’t have any blue light in them, at least that would be helpful.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • For something that I can’t cover with a dark wash cloth I lean an object against it to block the light. For instance I use a small mini notebook that I received as part of a gift up against the dvd player. I use my Ipod leaned up against the glowing numbers of the Ipod charger. So you can use anything that is the right size.
      Thanks Heather for all these wonderful tips.

      Reply
    • Hi there
      I have a Lumie bodyclock which turns the clock off when you set the wake up light alarm. I have used it for ages and really recommend it.
      It is lovely to have the time off – especially to stop clock watching in the wee small hours. Nothing worse then lying awake cursing how much sleep you are not getting!

      Reply
  2. Sleep has been my obsession for the last few years! You have definitely done your research too…as I have tried every single strategy on your list and also suffer from adrenal insufficiency and also have three small children! My insomnia is so bad that I actually sleep in my own bedroom away from my family in the basement! It is getting better as my adrenals heal but I wanted to chime in on some other possibilities that may help you or others who are so sleep deprived that its impairing their lives during the day! For me, balancing my blood sugar has been a huge catalyst in more restorative sleep. Since being pregnant with my 3rd child, I started waking up around 3 am wide awake and unable to go back to sleep. When the adrenals are not producing much cortisol, it affects blood sugar regulation and the livers ability to store glycogen. So, when one doesn’t have enough glucose to get them through the night, adrenals fire out adrenaline to signal the emergency that you need more glucose. For me, drinking licorice root tea in the first part of the day has been bery helpful, along with healing my adrenals with acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine. Another temporary help that I learned of through Julia Ross’ Mood Cure is to take tryptophan at night. My doctor had tests done that showed I was completely deficient in seratonin and many other hormones and amino acid therapy, along with nourishing diet, going to bed by 10am, pink noise, comfy bed, right temperature, morning light and exercise, and all your tips have helped tremendously! She also recommends 5htp, but I think that is a bit more sketchy than the tryptophan. My third child was spaced so close to my second AND I have nursed, non-stop during all my pregnancies, for 7 years! For me, I was depleted, despite eating a nourishing diet. Also, my ferritin was at a level 6 and is supposed to be around 80, even though I ate liver and lots of meat. Balancing my hormones was also key…my periods were so heavy and long that I lost a lot of blood. So, maca and TCM have helped a lot. So, those were the three biggies for me: balancing blood sugar and adrenals, tryptophan to bring up seratonin/melatonin, and balancing hormones. I also implement all the tips on your list, so I do think it’s a synergistic thing! My husband always makes fun of me in my orange glasses!

    Reply
    • This comment made me giggle. We have maca in our supplement cabinet and do a lot of the things you mentioned. I’ve been pregnant and/or nursing for the last eight years so I totally get where you’re coming from!

      I’m going to be reviewing Dr. Alan Christianson’s new book, The Adrenal Reset Diet, very soon. I think you’re going to like it 🙂

      Reply
    • Am mom of nine months old little boy. Am suffering from migraine. My doctor advice me to have proper sleep. But a proper eight hour sleep is almost impossible for me for most of the days. Sleep deprivation and the pain of migraine affects me a lot. I was so frustrated. Reading your (anita’s) problems I feel mine is nothing big comparatively.
      But anyway am scared about having more babies.

      Reply
    • Ferritin levels? I’m a sleep
      Tech. Work 12.5 hr shifts. And was asked by a health nutrition person to get my levels Checked

      I would rather not work nights

      It’s so bad for my overall health

      I’m
      Looking for another job. I get paid well and that’s the problem. Not many jobs can match my pay. W only having a 2 yr degree

      Reply
  3. Thank you for this! Especially the info about “second wind” – I get this and it drives my husband nuts! Good to know.. so I need an even earlier bedtime. LOL

    I will share this with the my family – all of whom have various sleep challenges.

    Reply
  4. Just curious why you use an electronic aromatherapy burner? I’m pretty strict about only using beeswax candles in my burner (they ionize the air similar to running water which has been shown to be helpful + they smell good!) but am wondering if you’ve got some research to share regarding the electronic ones?

    Reply
    • Jessica, I make beeswax candles and love burning them, but I prefer my diffuser for bedtime in case I fall asleep while it’s still on. Obviously, you can’t safely do that with candles 🙂

      Reply
  5. Hi, thank you for all the info. Wondering if you or anyone might know of a good place to purchase red light bulbs that are not painted/coated red. I’ve checked Amazon and the options aren’t so great. Also, has anyone used or know of a good place where you can purchase rubylith sheets? Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Thank you for all these awesome ideas! Regarding only red light at night: I recently researched air filters to have one running at night for allergies and pink noise production. I found one I liked, but it had blue lights! It seems like so many alarm clocks, fans, and heaters have blue instead of red lights. Anyway, to solve the problem, I finally figured out that I could cover the light with tape. If it’s something you don’t need to see at all, you can simply cover it with electrical tape (sometimes you’ll need to make it larger than the actual numbers/letters due to ambient light seeping around the edges). If you need to be able to see the lighted figures, but don’t want the blue light, you can get the beige colored masking tape and paint it red with permanent marker and then use that.

    Reply
  7. Hi Heather, I’m trying to find info for treating during pregnancy the adrenal hpa axis dysfunction. I’m very concerned because I am 8 weeks pregnant and I just found out about a month before i got pregnant, through a saliva test ,showing flattened cortisol levels, and the lab doctors that reviewed my hormone test said it looks like I have the hpa axis adrenal dysfunction. There is so little info I have been able to find on suppliments safe during pregnancy to help this. This condition is causing low progesterone even with being on progesterone prescription and topical pro-gest emerita, and i got one progesterone shot,levels only went from a 15 to 18.5 in 3 weeks on supplimenting. I’ve been doing a lot of research and found out how dangerous this can be if not corrected during pregnancy. If you can help in anyway I will be so thankful!

    Reply
    • 3 stars
      Salt before bed keeps me up. Sugar before bed keeps me up, even if it’s just fruit. Valerian supplements have been a life-saver. I wish I had known about it years before.

      Reply
  8. I usually stays up late at night and by 2 pm I am so sleepy that I would go and take a nap which may last for some two hours. At nightfall I am wide awake ready to do the late night all over again. I know I need to change that so I am making a commitment to go to bed early. This post was helpful to me. I am so sharing this.

    Reply
  9. Thanks for sharing this article!
    I’ve been using F.lux for over a month and I can definitely tell the difference in the quality of sleep that I’ve been getting. The warmer colours tend to make me feel more relaxed which helps me fall asleep.

    Reply
  10. Great post! I agree that you need to make the correct sleep environment and sleep habits. If you don’t, it’s no wonder you can’t sleep! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  11. I really find it very difficult to sleep. my legs are always paining. I keep rolling on the bed until
    3 am. I will Try all the methods you have explained. Thanks

    Reply
  12. Love these suggestions, a few I already do and want to incorporate more. This is something I need to work on! Oh, I so want an Intellibed. . .read everything about them. Unfortunately, they don’t ship internationally and we live in Australia. Please ask them to start shipping to Australia, PLEASE!

    Reply
  13. This is an excellent list. Thank you! However, I want to add a couple of comments from my own research.

    Re: your recommendation of grass-fed gelatin because it’s rich in glycine…be careful, because it’s not always calming. I have known people online who found it had the opposite effect, but beyond that, if you google “glycine may be excitatory” you will find that it can be. Here’s an excellent article: http://nancymullanmd.com/glutamate-and-gaba-balance/

    Quote: “Glycine is also a special case neurotransmitter. If the balance in your body is towards glutamate, glycine will be excitatory. If the balance is toward GABA, it will be inhibitory. So if you tend toward glutamate excess, avoid glycine.”

    Re: your recommendation of a pinch of salt, which some experts believe helps reduce excess cortisol in the body…I’ve read about and tried the “adrenal cocktail,” and somewhat understand the reasons behind each ingredient, but my overall impression is that salt assists the body in retaining cortisol. I won’t take time to look it up now, but I’ve seen this recommendation many times for those who have weak adrenals/low cortisol. The way I’ve experienced it myself is when I’ve eaten too much salt at night–like having salty popcorn in the evening. I end up being wide awake and hot (always a sign of high cortisol for me), in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep again.

    I have had some good results with herbs such as a hops/valerian/chamomile mixture (you can get it a Swanson), and lately have been taking a cortisol-lowering combo which includes adaptogenic herbs (Gaia HPA Axis). I also take phosphatidyl serine in the evening, which helps to lower cortisol. SAMe at night can also be excellent. If I ever figure out the perfect sleep potion, I’ll be recommending it to everyone, because especially as people get older, they have trouble staying asleep or getting good-quality sleep.

    Overall, after one has messed up their circadian rhythm and gotten their body confused in various ways, I think understanding the light and cortisol issues is most important. Yes to all of it, especially that “second wind” problem which is such a bad thing for us night owls.

    Finding out how bad sleep deprivation is should also motivate us. It’s a huge breast cancer risk, for example. There are so many YouTube doctors focusing on sleep nowadays, including Dr. Mercola. Oh, and don’t forget mouth taping. That’s almost a whole movement in itself, now! I read about the Buteyko method a few years ago and started taping at night, and I could really tell a difference as I woke up more refreshed (I’m an open-mouthed snorer, I believe). I’ve also noticed that now I naturally breathe through my nose during the day. If someone here is reading comments and checks out YouTube, I think you’ll find good info at the High Intensity Health channel. Also check out Dr. Darren Schmidt who has a short video about curing sleep apnea with an RNA supplement. I’m also trying that now and I think it’s great, even though I don’t have apnea that I know of.

    Good night! 😉 Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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  14. Thank you for sharing these tips. I have a hard time feeling rested after I wake up no matter how long I sleep. I will definitely try some of these things.

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  15. Some great suggests from some great research! Thank you. I no longer drink caffeine at all. I am starting to recognize and give in to the sleep cues my body gives me. But my 2 am quiet time always gets me. It is my time to talk to the Lord, learn about Him, and work on my blog. But, what I need to learn to do is to say no, kids do not wake for several hours I can sleep later.

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  16. Hello Heather! Thank you so much for sharing this awesome sleep tips! What I do i that I wake up 6am, eat breakfast, work from 7am-4pm (of course with lunch break), then go to the gym with my husband in the afternoon til evening, go home and take a shower, eat crackers for dinner then sleep like around 10pm. When I wake up in the morning, I still feel so sleepy so I go out and yeah, it’s true about the morning sunlight. It really helps a lot! Also, we only drink 1-2 cups of coffee per week (sometimes 3 if we are tempted Haha!). I suggets doing some balanced exercises, it can help a lot.

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  17. I’m happy I came across this page. I usually sleep for 7 hours every day. It’s rare for me to sleep for more than 7 hours. These tips will really help me. Thanks!

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  18. I am a night owl and always want to be early riser. I always try different tips and techniques. Among them, sone work and some not.
    I found your tips new and useful. Thanks for adding science studies too 🙂

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  19. Hi everyone.

    Great community of commenters here.

    here are some things which are helping me, in addition to the ones Heather mentions and that are included in some folks’ comments:

    an encouraging/fun youtube tedx video: How To Trick Your Brain Into Falling Asleep | Jim Donovan | TEDxYoungstown .

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5dE25ANU0k

    I’ve been utilizing this for two weeks and it sure helps me to fall asleep.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Adrenal assistance: Organ /glandulars from AncestralSupplements.com Their adrenal supplement ought to be taken with meal. The small business’s president Brian Johnson will email with you to make sure you are getting the best use of your investment of time and money. you can read many reviews on amazon,
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    At this time, i am not able to get outside first thing in the morning. so my 6:00 am option is to do a single Near Infrared Red Bulb sauna treatment to my front torso (thymus) and face areas for at least 20 minutes. These bulbs and the heavy duty clamp light fixture (rated for at least 250 watts) are available at hardware stores and online. they are the type of bulb used for brooding chicks and warming food.

    I will include a link to Dr. Wilson’s page on single bulb sauna, since he explains it so well. Towards the end of the page, he speaks about which types/brands of red infrared bulbs are best for this technique.

    https://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/SINGLE%20LAMP.HTM

    Many thanks to all. i will be adding your resources to the ones i already use =)

    Reply
  20. Hey, thanks for a great article. About the second wind problem, you said that you try to avoid that. I assume you mean by trying to go to bed consistently before 10 pm. But what do you do when you have one of those days like in the example you gave, where you feel ready for bed at six pm? To avoid the second wind rush in that scenario, maybe go to bed around eight? This happens to me, and I always wins up staying up all night, lol. Thanks for your thoughts. 😊

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  21. It is interesting that you mention having your cell phone near you, but having it in airplane mode. Why? What is the purpose? I have to keep my cell phone close at night as my mom is 88 and if she needs me, I have to be able to take her call. With it on airplane mode, I wouldn’t be able to get her emergency call. Anyone who needs to have access to emergency calls will have to leave it on and NOT in airplane mode. If you HAVE to have it near, it is for emergency calls, and having it in airplane mode is just silly.
    I note that other bloggers have made this recommendation for sleep, but it doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

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  22. Natural rest is something I’ve struggled with for a while. I’ll look to implement a few of these tips into my sleeping routine 🙂

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  23. How about a good pillow. If I eat good, exercise, watch my stress levels, get good sleep, and get adjusted I stay at my best health level.

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  24. Thank you for the tips! I’m a server and work a lot of super late nights. Sometimes it’s hard for me to calm down my mind and get to bed. But I’m going to incorporate some of your tips into my routine and hopefully I can sleep better!

    One thing I have noticed is I wake up in a MUCH better mood since I no longer have heavy curtains on my bedroom window. My dog accidentally pulled them down and I never really got around to putting them back up lol! Waking up to the sunlight in the mornings is comforting and it makes it easier to crawl out of bed versus dragging myself out of a dark room.

    Also! A lot of phones nowadays have blue light filters. Super helpful and I make sure it’s on, especially at night.

    Great post, thank you so much!

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  25. On number 9, you mention cold feet being a problem and if that troubles you, to put on warm socks. I hate wearing socks to bed, and even when I have tried it, it didn’t help them warm up very much at all. I still did it often because it was some better than no socks. Then I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling terribly restricted by the socks, and with my feet over-hot. BUT, then my aunt told me that if she has cold feet, she soaks them in warm water for a few minutes before going to bed, and it makes a huge difference. I started doing this when my feet are cold and have never looked back. It helps way better and faster than socks! And it doesn’t interrupt my sleep during the night! I seriously recommend that you consider adding it into your details of #9 so people who don’t read through 45 comments will still have this tip. It’s just so much better than socks that I can’t say it enough… 🙂

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  26. 3 stars
    These seem to be good tips, especially the one about fasting three hours before bed. I sleep so much better using that one! One item was missing, though. I often cannot sleep because I didn’t drink enough water. It is recommended that we drink half our weight in ounces. That’s my goal each day, and I usually use a huge cup just to help me achieve. On extra busy days I tend to not drink enough and then i can’t fall asleep regardless of being exhausted. Drink more water.

    I am especially sensitive to caffeine. So if I have it at all during the day, chances are I will most likely have restless legs at night and have a hard time going to sleep. It could even turn into tossing and turning after I finally fall asleep.

    Reply