Betty’s a poor sleeper so I’ve looked up stuff you can do:
- make sure you create a habit around going to bed (ie, do things in a certain order, which signals your brain that it’s time to go to bed)
- drink warm milk
- take a warm bath
- make sure you have clean sheets & a made bed
- add a few drops of lavender to your bath or your pillow
- try meditation or some relaxing yoga poses (Child’s Pose, Corpse Pose)
- & my favorite – put a tennis ball in your mouth for a minute before sleeping. it helps stretch out the jaw muscles where a lot of us hold our tension. good for those who grind their teeth, & recommended by my favorite masseuse. (alternately, you can put the tennis ball under your chin & hold it in place for a minute by keeping your jaw extended.)
Otherwise, Valerian is a non-addictive herbal remedy that is readily available at health stores. It’s stinky, but the stuff is amazing for relaxing & good sleep, and doubles as a cat treat (since cats respond to it like they do to catnip). You can try some of these suggestions, too.
I always find that I sleep better if I have some form of exercise during the day – a good walk, bike ride, something. Doesn’t have to be a lot, just something. Good luck.