Get Your Bed Ready
Are your pillows as fluffed as they could be? Is your comforter evenly laid out? Does your bed look appealing to get into?
Research shows that things like fresh sheets can easily make your slumbering experience better, and 71% of people surveyed said they sleep better when their sheets are clean.
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Take a few minutes to pick out an outfit, decide what you’re going to eat for breakfast, prepare your work bag, or even write a short to-do list of the things you need to accomplish before you head to the office.
Even if you don’t have every detail of your morning thought out, doing this gets the stressful thoughts out of your brain and makes you feel less scrambled when it’s game time.
Take five minutes to consider how your day went. Journaling reduces stress and helps boost your EQ.
Instead of going the “dear diary” route, write two bullet points for each of the following questions:
- What are the two things you did well today?
- What are the two things you can improve upon tomorrow?
Researchers at the University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading per day can reduce stress levels by 68%.
A good, old-fashioned paper book or magazine is best. Otherwise, try to use a tablet that doesn’t have blue light (which keeps you awake).
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A study from Albion College revealed that tasks requiring creative insight were consistently better during their non-optimal times of the day.
If you can’t sleep, you can at least use the time productively.
- Get rid of caffeine after 4:00 pm. Caffeine stays in your system for up to six hours.
Stay hydrated. Dehydration can make you feel sluggish and tired when you want to be awake.
Decide when the workday ends. Establish a cut off time for work-related emails and phone calls as well.
Digestion and sleep don’t mix well.