Getting the rest you need to feel good

Getting a good night's sleep is important to your physical and your emotional health, as well as your personal productivity. The average person requires about 7-8 hours of sleep per night to feel good, yet many of us are getting by on 6 hours or less each night!

Stress can have a significant impact. The more stress you have in your life, the more difficult it can be to get a good night's sleep. The less sleep you get, the harder it becomes to deal with stress. And so goes the cycle.

To break the cycle, try developing some healthy nighttime habits to enhance the amount and quality of sleep you get. Here are some ideas:

Light regular activity
Light exercise like yoga or walking in the evening is an excellent way to encourage a good night's sleep as it releases tension without over stimulating the body.

A regular schedule
Make an effort to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. If you can, try and wake up without an alarm clock. If you are getting adequate rest, your body's internal clock will wake you up when you've had enough sleep.

A warm bath
As any parent of a small child can attest, a warm bath encourages sleep. Soaking in a tub of bubbles can soothe away tension, leaving your body pampered and your mind free. A warm bath also raises your core body temperature by several degrees which naturally induces drowsiness.

Journaling
Keep a notebook and a pencil in your bedside table and take a few minutes each night to let your thoughts flow freely. Writing down your thoughts can get them out of your head and onto a page, allowing your mind to relax and pick up them up again the next morning.

De-clutter your surroundings
Many of us live with a level of disorder in our homes that can cause additional stress. Tidying up at the end of the day can leave you feeling less stressed because you're dealing with the clutter, and the anticipation of waking up to a more organized house can make your rest more peaceful.

What to avoid before you go to bed
Stressful conversations, caffeine, even just paying bills or watching certain TV shows can be over-stimulating to some people. Remember, everyone has a different threshold of tension, so try to listen to what your body is telling you and respond accordingly.

If stress is robbing you of a good night's rest, try using these and other stress management practices and consider using the So Good Lifestyle Tracker to monitor stress levels in your life.