Experts Share the Secrets to Getting Your Beauty Sleep

Experts Share the Secrets to Getting Your Beauty Sleep

You probably don’t get enough sleep, and that’s a fact. Whether you’re getting 8 hours in and still feeling like death the next morning or you just can’t get your brain to turn off while you’re laying in bed trying to sleep, there are a few tips to getting that sweet, sweet beauty sleep to rest your mind and body. 

Put Your Phone Down

Social media can be addicting, and we know how hard it is to put down the phone when every caption and video is so enticing. However, going to bed too late, especially every day, could be extremely detrimental to your health. The blue light from your phone actively tells your brain that it’s daytime, so your melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) production is decreased and you can’t sleep. Put your phone down at least one hour before bed, but sooner is better. You can even keep your phone in a different room than your bedroom so you don’t feel tempted to use it.

Meditate

There is lots of scientific evidence to suggest that meditation will help you get a better night’s sleep. Not only are people that meditate happier than the rest of the population (as well as less stressed out and more relaxed about their lives), they go to sleep easier. There are lots of ways to meditate and there’s no wrong way to do it, but if you’re a beginner, we suggest trying out a guided meditation. There are lots for free on YouTube as well as some apps you can try.

Meditation calms your mind and keeps those thoughts from racing around your head while you’re trying to sleep, preventing insomnia and dark circles under your eyes. 

Wind Down Before Bed

Putting down your phone an hour before bedtime is a great idea, but what’re you going to fill that hour with? You can put on some relaxing meditation music and meditate for a few minutes, read a book (you definitely don’t do this enough), or practice some self-care by taking a warm bath or giving yourself a facial. You deserve it!

Go to Sleep in a Dark Room

One of the most important ways to reach REM sleep is by sleeping in a completely dark room. Use room-darkening curtains if there is any light coming in through the windows, unplug any electronics that are making light, and don’t sleep with your fancy LED light strips on. Any light in the room can trick your brain into thinking that it’s day and lower your quality of sleep.

Wear Earplugs

If your partner (or dog) snores, there’s lots of traffic where you live, or there’s just some noise that you live with on a day-to-day basis, it can be a good idea to wear some earplugs to bed to give you complete and utter serenity while you try to get some shut-eye. Make sure to turn your alarm all the way up (if you keep an alarm clock) so you can hear it in the morning. 

Stay Away from the Snacks

Midnight snacking can be super tempting, but when you eat, your body is turning that food into glucose and ATP to be used by your cells as energy, making you feel less tired. Plus, studies have shown that eating late at night before you go to bed could be a reason why you put on weight so easily. After dinner, don’t let yourself eat any more food; water is great, but also stay away from sugary drinks and carbonated beverages. Water is all you really need, but don’t chug down an entire bottle to avoid 3 AM pee breaks.

Get Comfy

Sure, you could wear that cute lingerie set to bed, but is all that lace really comfortable? Sleeping in something that you’re comfy in is super important if you want to get some great hours of sleep in. Try out some sweats and a t-shirt rather than some cute set that chafes your thighs and leaves marks on your waist. You don’t want to crawl into bed and then be pulling and tugging your clothing so it’s not so itchy or sits in just the right spot; not only is it preventing you from actually sleeping, it’s just annoying!

If you REALLY want to go to sleep in style, there are plenty of pajama sets that you can find online for really awesome prices made out of comfortable materials.

 

Sabrina Cooklin