Most people realize the value of a good night’s sleep. In general, we know it feels good when we sleep well, and we feel a bit sluggish when we don’t. For those who fail to experience quality sleep on a regular basis, troubleshooting the issue can feel daunting and complicated. As soon as you realize you have trouble sleeping, it becomes another nagging thought running through your head as you squeeze your eyes shut, hoping to drift away into a restful night’s sleep. That added pressure can cause more harm than good!

If you want to properly tackle those sleepless nights and get on the road to more energetic, productive days, you may want to start by implementing a few small changes in your daily habits. Learning some of the most effective practices for a rejuvenating night’s sleep can make a world of difference to your life by encouraging your mind and body to truly relax and recharge.

Depending on who you ask or which phrase you type into your web search, you are likely to find dozens of sleep-improving recommendations. Some of them may be old wives-tales, and some may sound a bit outrageous. To save you the trouble of sifting through the internet search results, here are a few tried-and-true practices that will positively influence your ability to achieve a restful night’s sleep on a regular basis:

  • Try Rejuvia’s Sleep Spray. We found Rejuvia’s sleep spray to be one of the best sleep supplements on the market. It’s formulated with organic, powerful ingredients like hemp, valerian root and gingko biloba, and it kicks instantly. They claim it helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep, and that is very true after we tried it.
  • Cut back on your screen time.  As much as it hurts to read, it’s true. The blue lights from your cell phone, computer, tablet, and even TV can actually negatively influence how you sleep. Because the brain interprets the blue light as daylight, it suppresses the body’s natural production of melatonin. Melatonin is extremely helpful in falling asleep and staying asleep, as the hormone is vital in managing your circadian rhythm.
  • How to easily implement this change: A couple of hours before your normal bedtime, try to put your phone on the charger and forget about it for the night. Instead of streaming your favorite TV show or browsing the internet, lower the lights and read a book, avoiding screens.
  • Limit your caffeine intake, especially later in the day.  Coffee lovers – this one is tough. Putting down that warm, aromatic pick-me-up in the afternoon may be difficult, but you will be doing your entire body a favor. Studies have shown that caffeine can have long-lasting effects on the body’s ability to wind down, and reducing your caffeine intake (or limiting it to earlier in the day) can drastically improve your ability to relax at night. Even if you don’t feel jitters from excessive caffeine, it could be working against your sleep goals.
  • How to easily implement this change: While slightly less popular than it’s caffeine-packed counterparts, caffeine-free soda and decaffeinated coffee are excellent alternatives to try. If you always reach for a coffee or soda in the afternoon or with dinner, swap it out for a decaf or a sparkling water. It may not be as delicious initially, but the impact it will have on your nightly routine will more than make up for it.
  • Try following a more intentional sleep schedule. Sometimes easier said than done, a strict schedule can actually work wonders on the body and mind. After all, we are creatures of habit, and implementing a consistent schedule can help train our bodies to be more responsive to all of the changes our typical day entails.
  • How to easily implement this change:  Of course, this solution will primarily work for individuals with schedules allowing such a rigid structure. If you are sometimes forced to work late or are occasionally scheduled for unusually early meetings, this may be a more difficult solution. However, whenever possible, simply choose a “regular” time to wake up and go to sleep, and put effort into following that schedule. Creating this habit with intention and following through with it will help train your mind and body, encouraging a more predictable, restful night’s sleep.
  • Add a melatonin supplement into your routine.  Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by the body, plays an important role in achieving a deep, recharging night’s sleep. Most of us produce melatonin naturally. However, some individuals may produce less of it for a variety of reasons. Aging, personal stressors, smoking, too much blue light at night, and unpredictable or inconsistent schedules are just a few.