What have I done to improve my sleep quality?
As I’ve mentioned before, I struggle to fall asleep on a regular basis. My Sweetie can nod off in under 10 minutes. That makes me extremely jealous what with it taking me about an hour to do the same.
It used to take me longer, and I would wake up not feeling rested at all. One change that made a huge difference was getting a new mattress. When it got to be that I woke up aching all over, as if I had been beaten up all night long, and just as tired as when I feel asleep, Sweetie agreed to buying a new mattress. Me sleeping on the air mattress in the den because it was way more comfortable may have helped convince them.
Sweetie likes a firm mattress. I prefer something a bit softer. At first we looked at IKEA for something affordable that we both might like. Nothing really seemed to fit the bill.
We happened to see Sleep Number was having a sale that weekend. That turned out to be the perfect solution. Yes, it was pricey, but it has been so worth it. Sweetie gets their super firm mattress. And I can vary how soft or firm my side is depending on how my body is feeling that night. We just went with a fairly basic model. I tend to keep the remote to adjust the settings in my bedside table since I use it the most.
In my last post on my struggles with sleep, I mentioned using a sleep mask and, occasionally, earplugs. I have been using the earplugs a bit more often, so I’m considering investing in ones that aren’t single use. I saw some noise-masking sleep buds by Bose that seem to fit the bill of what exactly I’m looking for. But I want to be sure before I drop that much on them.
I’m still thinking about investing in a weighted blanket, too. With how I tend to overheat while falling asleep, it would definitely have to be one of the cooling ones. More research needs to be done on those before buying anything. I want one that is easy to clean, wicks away sweat or something to help keep me cool at night, organic cotton or bamboo materials are a plus, and comes in twin or full size as Sweetie and I use separate blankets because we’re both blanket hogs.
I do take Magnesium every night. A Nurse Practitioner recommended I take some an hour before bedtime to help with my restless legs. And I can usually tell pretty quick on the nights I forgot to take it. Those nights it becomes absolutely impossible to find a comfortable position. It’s pretty much a guarantee that I will get up and take it once I’ve realized I’d forgotten to earlier.
Melatonin is another thing I’m considering adding to my bedtime routine. I’d rather not have take a prescription sleep aid if I can at all avoid it. Any suggestions on a good brand of Melatonin?
I have been known to take two Benadryl tablets when I’ve had trouble falling asleep in the past because one wouldn’t cut it. When I have looked at over-the-counter sleep aids before, most of them seem to be varying dosages of the active ingredient in Benadryl. Since I always have a large bottle of Benadryl on hand, there was no point in buying any of them.
What are some tricks that have helped you fall asleep?
