Quality sleep is so crucial. Something so primal and simple is so powerful.

Imagine a night where you stayed up too late stressing over something. Tossing & turning, closing your eyes and having thoughts run wild through your head, unable to get any peace. You finally manage to doze off, then in a blink your alarm is going off.
How does it feel getting out of bed? What does your day look like after a night like that? What kind of work are you going to produce?
Generally, the day following would feel pretty crappy.

Now imagine being fresh & clean, sliding into a freshly made bed. Your work bag is packed, your outfit for tomorrow is laid out and ready. You read part of your favorite book and/or journal for a few minutes, then turn off the lights. Glancing over at the clock you smile realizing you get 8 hours of bed time. (sigh of relief)…goodnight.
How wonderful do you feel after a great night’s rest? How is your mood and attitude positively affected? When was the last time you got 8 hours of solid sleep?

Okay, we know we’re supposed to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night but HOW do we achieve it?
Don’t stress over sleep, just keep it simple…see what I did there?

• Have a bedtime—Our bodies are amazingly adaptable, if you’re going to bed late or at varying times, it will make it challenging for your body to be on track to fall asleep when you want. Help yourself out by choosing a regular time to unwind and get into bed, allowing for adequate sleep time.
• Create the environment-–tell your mind and body it’s time for bed by using lower lights and soft, chill music. I like dabbing on lavender essential oil to enhance the relaxing.
• Avoid technology and screens—no need to wind yourself up with that intense show or things that you find scrolling through the internet. I promise you won’t die if you put your phone away or decide not to have the TV on as you fall asleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night, our devices are NOT helpful in getting us back to sleep…don’t do it.
• Clear your mind—bedtime is not the time to think about that phone call you were supposed to make, or revisit that dumb thing you said earlier in the day, and especially not the time to worry about what’s going to happen at work tomorrow. I’d recommend getting lost in a book or journaling some of the day’s thoughts/events to leave things on paper and not in your head.
• Set yourself up for less stress—I find it helpful to pack my work/workout bag, put together any food and pick my outfit for the next day the night before. It makes for a much smoother morning.
• Don’t forget to breathe and think happy thoughts—As you close your eyes and make the transition to dream land, take slow, relaxing breaths. Soften your face and think about the things you are grateful for. Your bed, your health, the good people in your life, the opportunity for sleep!…the list goes on.