Wake Up with a Smile: 8 Nighttime Rituals to Ensure You Are a Happy Camper in the Morning!

Sleep, at least restful sleep, seems to be one of the hardest things to come by in our ever-busy lives. We often sacrifice sleep for work or other obligations that, while important, are not worth sacrificing our health over. Sleep is often plagued by anxiety, worry, or list-making in our heads that end up leading to fitful spells of sleep and incredibly drowsy mornings that make us feel like we’ve been running a marathon instead of peacefully dozing in our beds.

The best ways to wake up happier and better rested usually revolve around what we do the evening and night before. Instead of working until we drop into these disturbed sleep patterns, try doing some of the helpful tips listed below to find what works for you. Don’t be afraid to shake them up or add some of your own in the comments section below. All of us Green Monsters need a good night’s sleep and a happy morning to give us the energy to face the day and make a positive difference.

1. Keep the Bedroom for Sleep and Intimacy

Cardinal rule number ONE! It’s a toughie, I know. It’s so easy to want to hook up the laptop and work from a comfy cozy bed, or read a book, or do your workout, but stop. There has to be another space in the house or apartment to work on those things. Train your brain to keep the bedroom for sleep and intimacy so your mind doesn’t wander to the stack of files on the nightstand, the TV show you’re hooked on, or the hundred and one paint swatches and décor samples filling the bureau. Keep it out of the bedroom so your mind associates that room with sleep. Plus, who wants to look at files when they wake up in the morning. Not I.

2. Understand that Sleep is Essential

It seems that the more work we have to do, the more we sacrifice sleep to get things done. Understanding that sleep is essential, not only for our bodies, but for our minds as well, helps to remind us that sleep is something we must do to perform at optimum levels, just like eating right or drinking plenty of water. It helps facilitate cognitive functions and often, after a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake up rested, rejuvenated, and raring to go on the next task to tackle.

3. Find a Regular Sleep Schedule

Helping the body and mind prepare for sleep is something that really helps to get you relaxed and ready for that solid eight-hour stretch of sleep. Try following a sleep schedule for a week or so and see if it helps to improve your quality of sleep and how you feel in the morning. Going to bed around the same hour every night and rising in the morning at a particular time helps to regulate the body and mind, so it’s one less thing to put on our overly filled daily schedule, because your body will know when it’s time to sleep.

4. Create a Pre-Sleep Routine

Whether it’s a doodle in a sketchbook, a quick Sudoku puzzle, or even a magazine, try doing something relaxing and not too stimulating before bed. Watching Game of Thrones (as tempting as it is) or even the news may not be the best choice since it will engage your mind far too much to create a restful state. Try something that doesn’t occupy a lot of mental capacity and only do it just before bed to train your brain that it’s time to sleep, just after you figure out where the 8 goes in this stupid puzzle.

5. Spend 15 Minutes Cleaning Before Laying Down

One of the biggest complaints about not being able to fall asleep is that there is too much housework to be done. There’s always one more dish, one more load of laundry, one more floor to be swept. Allocate 15 minutes before bed to take care of the big stuff so it’s one less thing to worry about in the morning. You’ll rest easier knowing the laundry will be ready to be hung out in the morning, the floor is (mostly) free of crumbs, and, well, there will always be dishes around the sink, but at least some of them are done. Fifteen minutes of chores can really take a load off in the morning, especially in case you oversleep.

6. Stop Working at Least an Hour Before Bedtime

As mentioned before, don’t do anything especially mentally taxing just before bed. Working is absolutely included in this list. A good rule of thumb is to finish working at least an hour before bed to give yourself time to gain a little distance from that big meeting or presentation you’ve been hammering away at. If nothing else, at least you won’t be dreaming about work during your “relaxation” time or wondering if you ended a slide with a recent picture from Cabo instead of that pie chart you were working on.

7. Make a List

If something is keeping you up at night with worry, try writing it down. Organize a list and write the problems, possible outcomes, and what is currently being done about them. You’ll get it out of your system and know that there’s nothing to do at 3 A.M. on a Tuesday because the office isn’t open until 9:00. Putting down worries and stresses helps to relieve your body of some tension and create a more peaceful environment. You’ll wake up happy and know that things are improving in the worrisome areas and you’re doing everything in your power.

8. Focus On The Positive

Even if you are worried, forget about it. Focus on the positive, baby! There are a zillion wonderful things on this earth to be thankful for. Whether it’s friendship, that awesome new vegan recipe, or some good old-fashioned snail mail from a friend far away, reflect on the positivity in your life and in those around you. This will help put you in a great mood before bed so you can wake up laughing.

More Sleep Resources

• Why You Should Eat Two Kiwifruit an Hour Before Bedtime If You Can’t Sleep
• 9 Blue Light Blocking Glasses for Better Sleep and Eye Health
• Get Better Sleep With These 15 Natural, Calm-Inducing Natural Products
• Wellness Tips for Creating a More Sleep-Friendly Bedroom
• 8 Natural Alternatives to LDN for Better Sleep
• Kick Your Insomnia With These 5 Sleep-Inducing Plant-Based Foods