You’ve always dreamed of planning a fairy-tale wedding, but now that you are knee-deep into the process, your most immediate aspiration is simply a good night’s sleep. Who knew that planning a wedding would impact your ability to catch 40 winks? It’s no secret that sleep is a vital element of your well-being. The Sleep Foundation reports that adults need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night to function properly. We’ve all heard that we need to get “beauty sleep,” but more importantly, we require sufficient sleep so we can think and make decisions clearly. We asked sleep expert Annika Carroll, CEO of Sleep Like a Boss for a few tips for couples to increase their ability to get a good night’s sleep.
5 tips to get a good night’s sleep
- A good bedtime routine starts in the morning: Getting sunlight into your eyes first thing helps to set your body’s inner clock and balance your hormones. This helps the body know when to release cortisol and melatonin – the two primary hormones that govern our sleep and awake cycles. So, enjoy your coffee or tea together outside on the porch, maybe cuddled in a comfy blanket in the morning.
- Watch the sunset at night together if you can. The reddish hues of light signal the body’s inner clock that it is time to wind down.
- Design a sleep sanctuary together. Have a bedroom that creates a calming atmosphere for both of you. The bedroom should be left for sleep and sex only. Leave your laptops and phones out of the bedroom. Your brain should associate the bedroom with nothing but rest and intimacy.
- Use separate covers if your partner tends to hog covers for themselves to enjoy a restful sleep.
- Go to bed at the same time as your partner only if it aligns with your personal sleep time.
- The night before the big event: what to do to get a decent sleep
The night before the big event: what to do to get a decent sleep
Photo courtesy of ChappyWrap. Photo credit: Julia D’Agostino
- Don’t pack your schedule to the last minute, allow yourself time to wind-down
- Delegate tasks to friends and family so you can enjoy the night and be fresh for the next day
- Do something relaxing, maybe get a massage
- Leave alcohol for the big day as alcohol interferes with sleep
- Try not to worry about sleep – if you’re too excited and can’t get a good night’s rest the make-up person will fix it (and you will be riding on happy hormones anyways to keep you awake that day)
