The good sleep checklist

What you do—morning, day, and night—can greatly affect your quality of sleep. Here are 12 tips to help you get better sleep every night.

Morning

• Follow a routine: Try to wake up at the same time each day—even on the weekends. This will regulate your body’s clock and help you fall asleep more effectively come nighttime¹
• Let the sun in: The more natural sunlight you can get in the morning, the better. It’s the body’s cue to stop producing melatonin—the hormone that controls your sleep cycle—so you can wake up and start your day¹
• Eat breakfast: Think slow-to-digest foods like oatmeal, eggs, plain yogurt, or nuts. This will help reduce any reliance on caffeine and sugar throughout the day¹

Afternoon

• Cut off your caffeine: You may feel like that afternoon coffee isn’t doing anything, but it may. Caffeine remains in the body for up to 8 hours, so if it affects you, have your last caffeinated beverage around 2 p.m.¹
• Nap with caution: If you find yourself needing a midday rest, keep it short—10-30 minutes—and try to do it before 3 p.m.
• Get moving: Whether it’s a walk after lunch or a vigorous workout, make sure you exercise daily. Just remember to wind it down at least 3 hours before bedtime
• Make time for important conversations: It’s not easy to fall asleep after having a difficult conversation—you don’t have time to emotionally process what happened. Instead, communicate any issues earlier in the day so you can relax at night

Evening

• Eat a sleep-friendly dinner: Try to stick with veggies, beans, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. These foods calm the body and may increase serotonin levels, which are chemicals in the body that are considered natural mood boosters and help regulate sleep, digestion, eating, and more²
• Adjust your room temperature: The perfect temperature for sleeping is between 60-68°F. Experiment to find out what your optimal temperature is for better sleep
• Sniff out your surroundings: Smells—both good and bad—can affect your dreams. Try spraying calming scents like lavender and chamomile in your bedroom before sleep
• Turn off all devices and clear your mind: Write in a journal, make a list of tomorrow’s priorities, or just quietly meditate. When you finally shut your eyes, your mind should be calm and ready for relaxation
• Try a Breathe Right® nasal strip. They help relieve nighttime nasal congestion, offering relief you can feel right away