Many factors in our daily lives keep us up at night, and many Americans suffer from sleep deprivation that can negatively affect them during the day. Being tired is detrimental to our mental health, physical health, and overall productivity. Luckily, there are many effective ways to create a natural and healthy sleep routine to ensure you’re getting the most out of your beauty sleep.

Don’t Bring the Phone to Bed

Our daily lives are crammed full of screens that overstimulate our minds, and, in turn, they leave us restless at bedtime. It’s completely natural to struggle with turning our screens off before it’s time to sleep; however, scrolling on your phone or binging television shows until you pass out is an ineffective way to rest.

Practice turning off all electronics well before starting your sleep routine and keeping your phone out of your bed. This reduces exposure to blue light, which can trick your brain into thinking that it is daytime. Eventually, your brain will build natural circadian habits that eliminate the urge to watch screens in bed.

Work Your Body To Sleep

This method involves minor exercises meant to relax your body and mind. Yoga or basic stretching relieves stress and releases relaxing hormones that naturally make you tired. Performing breathing exercises also calms your brain and can improve the quality of your slumber.

Lastly, doing aerobic workouts a few hours before bedtime is the perfect way to stay physically fit and naturally relax your body. Exercise relieves tension, which keeps us restless at night, holistically.

Prep Your Sleeping Quarters

A good night’s sleep is dependent on creating a proper environment. Our bodies sleep better in cool, dark spaces with minimal clutter. This way, you can bundle up in a naturally dark space and stay asleep throughout the night.

Your room should function solely as a place for slumber—clutter is stressful on the mind, and performing any activity other than sleeping within your room will train your brain to resist resting. Make your bed every morning so that you can enter an organized space optimal for sleep.

Complete Your Tasks Before Bed

Work, school, and upcoming chores or responsibilities leave our brains restless, so aim to complete any necessary task well before your bedtime. It’s good practice to never take your work to bed—the additional stress impedes proper rest. Sleep deprivation can affect your career, making you less productive in getting to sleep and working the following day.

Sleep is not an easy task for many people, so it’s completely understandable if you struggle to achieve optimal rest. Knowing how to create a natural and healthy sleep routine is the first step in achieving a quality lifestyle.