October 11, 2017
As a current university student, I was finding myself prioritizing everything else over sleep. Not only was I getting insufficient amounts, but when I did fall asleep, I was restless and woke up many times throughout the night. This past year, I made a commitment to improve my sleeping habits and the quality of my sleep. This is how I fixed my sleep in 5 simple steps!
How I Fixed My Sleep in 5 Simple Steps
Refrain from using electronics one hour before bed and turn them off when you go to bed
This one was one of the most difficult. I loved watching Netflix and scrolling through social media before bed. Not to mention I only ever used my phone as my alarm clock! But as a last ditch effort to save my sleep, I went out and bought a new alarm clock and a new book to read every night before bed instead of using my phone.
Get sufficient vitamin D or take vitamin D daily, especially in winter months
Vitamin D can influence sleep quality and quantity, as well as many other functions within the body. Living in Canada, I knew I wasn’t get enough vitamin D in the winter months, so I started supplementing with vitamin D drops every morning in a mixture of vitamin D and olive oil in an ounce of juice.
Stick to a sleep schedule
This was another challenging feat for me. In my first four years at university, I would consistently stay up until the early hours of the morning, and sleep in until late morning. Instead of going from 0-100 in attempts to establish a sleep schedule, I would go to bed a half hour to an hour earlier and wake up a half hour earlier each day until I was on a consistent schedule.
Increase magnesium intake before bed
Magnesium has many health benefits, but in relation to aiding sleep, it relaxes the muscles, calms the nervous systems, and helps in easing anxiety. I began by taking a magnesium citrate powder each night before bed. As my sleeping habits improved, I took the magnesium about 4-5 times a week.
Keep a cool, dark room
By combining all of these tips, I have found my sleep quality and quantity has improved drastically, and hopefully yours will too!
