Health

10 ways to ensure a good night’s sleep

What you need to know about getting to sleep — and staying asleep

The sleep crisis

Florian Jaenicke/Redux

‘Whoever we are, wherever we are in our lives, sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer – with no nasty side effects.’

— Arianna Huffington in conversation with Maclean’s

Arianna Huffington is an unapologetic bedtime evangelist. She dedicated space on her website to “Sleep + Wellness,” used a 2010 TED Talk to sound the alarm on deprivation one-upmanship, and explored the theme in Thrive, a 2014 bestseller. In her new book, The Sleep Revolution, she makes the case that where sleep is concerned, more is more. Courtesy of Huffington, here are 10 easy ways to improve your slumber.

10 sleep tips that will change your life

Don’t charge your phone next to your bed. (Even better: gently escort all devices completely out of your bedroom.)

No caffeine after 2 p.m.

Create a ritual around your transition to sleep. (For Huffington, this includes “a hot bath with Epsom salts, light stretching, and deep breathing or meditation to help ease my body and mind into sleep.”)

Keep your bedroom cool. The National Sleep Foundation in the U.S. recommends 65 degrees F.

Move your body. ‘We sleep better when we make time for regular physical activity.’

Forgo the nightcap. While it seems like alcohol works as a sedative, it quickly turns into a sleep disrupter.

Scent your bedroom with lavender: ‘Used throughout history for healing and relaxation.’

Slip into pajamas — a signal to the body that it’s time to shut down.

Don’t struggle. If you spend 20 minutes trying without luck to sleep, switch to meditating or read a book.

Take it one night at a time.

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.