How to Fall Asleep Fast
There is a bunch of advice out there about how to make yourself fall asleep really fast, and nonsense like that. When you think about it, all of the goofy ways that people have drummed up over the years to help themselves fall asleep is actually a testament to just how important sleep is in our daily lives. We spend far more time sleeping during our lives than we do doing anything else, and there is good reason for that. But to think that making up an imaginary friend to talk to in your head, or counting sheep, or singing a song is going to be the key to shuteye might just be a stretch. Then again, desperate times call for desperate measures. And I know that we’ve all tried just about everything at one point or another to finally fall asleep on nights when our minds race.
Anyway, in this post, I’m going to outline several of the ‘tried and true’ methods to teach you how to fall asleep fast and easy.
The first point is one that is often overlooked, but is perhaps the most important. Have a routine. The body likes routine, and appreciates doing the expected. Maybe you read a book each night, or enjoy taking a bath. Maybe part of your routing is recounting your day’s successes and failures. Making a list of the things you want to accomplish the next day can be a good way to unwind. A cup of tea can be another great part of a pre-bedtime routine. These are all very obvious and standard things that people do before going to sleep, but yours can be as unconventional as you like. The main point is that the activity should be a calming one and should slowly help you wind down as you prepare to sleep. Obviously, there are quite a few activities that should not qualify. Drinking a bottle of wine, or running three miles, or dancing around the living room with the volume on high are not great examples of how to fall asleep very fast. TV, believe it or not, is also generally considered to be ineffective. As it requires almost no effort to watch, it will neither tire you out or get you thinking about sleep. If you think about it, the sole job of the TV is to keep you awake, watching more shows, and being exposed to more advertisements. It may sound extreme, but turning the TV off an hour before you think you’ll be going to sleep is a great first step towards establishing a healthier sleep cycle.
We have now covered one of the most important tips on how to fall asleep fast, and that is to establish a routine. From here, we’ll talk about less common tricks that you can incorporate into your routine to help achieve your goal of better sleep, faster.
1. Think about soundproofing your room. If the slightest creak or noise wakes you, this is a no-brainer. Obviously, re-insulating your room would be an extreme and expensive solution, but there are white noise machines available in stores that can accomplish a similar effect.
2. Obvious point number two would be the lighting. If your sleeping environment is both sound proof and pitch black, you can start looking at other alternatives. That being said, if you are in a pitch black room, trying a night or two with soft lighting in one of the corners could be just the trick. Because environment is so important, consider a new set of sheets as well. I just got a new set of Dorma bedding, and love it.
3. Breathing and meditation techniques can have a tremendous effect on sleep. Think about something peaceful, or try taking several controlled, slow, and deep breaths once you get into bed. You might be surprised about how effective this practice can be in helping you unwind and forget about the thoughts that plague you at night. And if this helps you to stop snoring, your partner will thank you as well.
4. Perhaps this should have come much earlier in the conversation, but one helpful technique in teaching many people how to fall asleep fast is telling them to spend as little time as possible in their bedroom. Sound counter-intuitive? Well, it is to some degree. But the real thinking is that you should not spend any time in bed that you do not intend to be sleeping. If your body associates the bed with sleep, it will have an easier time doing so once you are ready to go to bed.
5. Get rid of the clocks. If you can see what time it is at all points, or you can hear the clock ticking, you are always going to be upset at yourself for “still being awake.” Make sure you don’t know what time it is, and you’re not thinking about how you should be sleeping. The increased pressure will only make things harder.
If all else fails, get up and do something boring. Read that book you didn’t make it through when you were in school. Re-calculate last year’s tax return. Just don’t watch TV or do anything else that lulls you into staying awake. Hopefully, this advice will help you fall asleep fast. If not, don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember, all you have to lose is a little more sleep 
.
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