It’s Time for Healthy Sleep: 3 Smart Habits You Can Try Today

Everyone is tired.

You’re tired. I’m tired. The majority of internet surfers right now are probably looking up “how to fix sleep schedule” at 3 AM, just after they finished doom-scrolling TikTok. So if you’ve landed here, welcome—you’re not alone. We’ve all told ourselves to sleep early tonight to squeeze in more hours of sleep, but maybe it’s not about adding more hours. Perhaps it’s about rethinking our approach to sleep altogether. 

Here are three smart (and perhaps lesser-known) habits worth trying tomorrow. I say tomorrow because you may be reading this at the crack of dawn, and it is far too late. 

Ditch the alarm

From Peanuts Official GIPHY

It is convenient to know the time as soon as you hear the alarm sound. But it isn’t the best option. Your body doesn’t just listen to sound; it feels the light. Consider using a sunrise alarm clock or even a smart bulb, like the Nordlux Smart Bulb, that gradually brightens in the morning. If you want to take it a step further, you can also try automatic blinds. These things mimic natural daylight and gently ease you out of sleep, rather than scaring the soul out of your body. 

Your cortisol levels will thank you, and you get to start the day without a thumping heart. 

Speaking of stress. It may be best to schedule your overthinking. 

From The Hills Official GIPHY

We’ve all had it–the endless internal monologue that starts the second your head hits the pillow. The tip here is to set aside “worry time” earlier in your evening. Take 10 minutes to write down your to-do list and reflect on anything that's worrying you at that moment. You’re training your brain that this isn’t the time or place for stress. That little trick alone has helped a surprising number of people fall asleep faster, not because their problems disappeared, but because they postponed them like a mature adult. 

Literally cool down 

From Ruppert Tellac Official GIPHY

If you need something more actionable, you can direct your body to literally chillax. It’s not just your brain that needs to chill; your body literally needs to drop in temperature to fall asleep faster. Instead of going straight to bed, take a warm (not hot) shower before going to bed. A warm bath can have a cooling effect as it boosts blood flow to your skin, which helps your core temperature drop and triggers the release of melatonin, making it easier to sleep. Plus, it's a great practice because you can wash off a day's worth of dirt. 

At the end of the day (literally), better sleep isn’t about fancy sleep supplements or complete lifestyle overhauls. Sometimes, it’s these small adjustments. I don’t know what your bedroom situation is, which is why I implore you to step back and analyze things for better sleep.