One thing that really bugs me is when I'm absolutely shattered, go to bed and then can't sleep! Then I don't want to get up in the morning and go through the entire next day on auto pilot.
Here's a few things I tried to rectify this.
We all have bedtime habits such as watching TV or surfing the bed, this makes your brain work hard as you are tired so it won't switch off when you want it to.
You may have a favourite show you watch in bed, the thing is that because you enjoy it so much you will be concentrating hard on it.
Your brain needs to be able to sleep so that you can.
Now this is a tip that students use when they need to study.
Get yourself a non fiction book that is full of facts but has zero entertainment value.
Your brain recognizes how boring this is and shuts itself down, enabling you to fall asleep.
You need to so something to make you tired and physical exercise that really pushed you is the best way to do this.
Your mind and your body will both switch off through exhaustion.
Although some people say all exercise will do this, I tend to stick to cardio and resistance work.
Yes I have that buzz immediately afterwards, but by the evening my body is crying out for sleep.
If your wear glasses or contacts, remove these before getting into bed, rather than once you are in it.
There are a couple of reasons for doing this.
If you still have them on and force yourself to watch TV through tired eyes they will be harder to close.
Your eyes will feel relaxed and more comfortable by taking them off beforehand.
How many of us are late night snackers and feel that we can't sleep until we've eaten? This is a fallacy that you have brought about yourself by eating too late.
You will want to go to sleep but your brain will keep you awake by thinking about what's in the fridge.
There is also the probability of weight gain to consider here, so knock the late night eating on the head.