
5 Simple Ways to Instantly Improve Your Sleep Tonight
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1. Set the Mood with a Wind-Down Window
Creating a consistent bedtime ritual signals to your brain that itβs time to sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, engaging in calming activities like stretching or reading before bed helps reduce cortisol levels (your stress hormone), making it easier to fall asleep.
π§ A pre-sleep routine can help condition your body to associate certain behaviors with rest, much like how brushing your teeth signals you're done eating.
π£ Try this: Slip into soft, cozy loungewear and start dimming the lights 30 minutes before bed to give your mind time to shift gears.
2. Create a Cozy, Calm Environment
The sleep environment plays a huge role in how fast you fall asleep and how restful your sleep is. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends a sleep space that is dark, quiet, and cool to help maintain natural melatonin production β the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle.
π§ The brain associates darkness with melatonin release, which promotes sleep. Disruptions to this process β like artificial light or a noisy space β can delay or fragment your rest.
π Weighted blankets, memory foam pillows, and layered textures can help your bedroom feel like a calming retreat, increasing feelings of comfort and safety.
3. Block Out Distractions
Exposure to light and noise at night β even at low levels β can interrupt your sleep cycle. A study published in Current Biology found that ambient light reduces both melatonin levels and REM sleep, the stage where your body and mind restore.
π§ Even the glow from your phone screen can trick your brain into thinking it's daytime, delaying melatonin and reducing sleep depth.
π§ Using a Bluetooth sleep headband with soothing sounds or white noise helps drown out disruptive background noise without the discomfort of bulky headphones.
4. Cool It Down
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that your core body temperature needs to drop slightly to initiate sleep. This is why cool rooms β around 65Β°F (18Β°C) β are considered ideal for optimal sleep.
π§ When your environment is too warm, it can interfere with the body's natural drop in temperature, causing restless sleep and increased awakenings.
βοΈ Use breathable blankets and heated throws for warming your extremities while still allowing your body to regulate core temperature.
5. Stick to a Sleep Schedule
Irregular sleep patterns throw off your circadian rhythm β your bodyβs internal clock. According to Harvard Medical School, consistent sleep and wake times lead to deeper, more restorative sleep and help you fall asleep faster over time.
π§ Your body thrives on rhythm β and consistency trains your biological clock to get sleepy at the same time every night.
β° Set a reminder to begin winding down each night and keep your wake time steady β even on weekends β to reset your natural rhythm.
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