Sleep Away the Winter Blues

Ah, winter. It’s that time of year when we’re all much more likely to skip a night out on the town and curl up on the couch with a good movie, blanket and cup of hot cocoa. You might feel like hibernating until spring is the only way to escape the winter blues, but getting smart sleep can help.

Try these tips to secure restful beauty sleep.

• Make sure your sleep-wake cycle stays regular. Many people suffer from both insomnia, opens new tab (lack of sleep) and hypersomnia (sleeping more than normal) during the winter. It’s a classic recipe for the winter blues. A reliable routine can help put the spring back in your step, so try to go to sleep at night and wake up each morning at roughly the same time. By the way, have you seen the latest fitness trackers? They’re getting more stylish by the minute, and many of them can actually help track your sleep cycle.
• Focus on a regular light-dark cycle. Light delivers powerful cues to your brain to trigger your sleep patterns. Using darkness and light effectively can keep your body in a healthy rhythm. In the morning, skip the startling alarm on your phone and try using a lamp timer to turn on a bedroom light to gently wake you.
• Shut down screens to help shut down your brain. The blue light of smartphones and tablets keeps you awake and makes it harder to fall asleep. Give yourself a two-hour break before bedtime to help switch into sleep mode. It will be okay – really! Instagram can wait until morning.