Well-Being

How to Get a Better Night's Sleep... and Prevent Nightmares

Experts sound off with their best sleep hygiene tips

by Heather Cichowski | COMMENT

PHOTO 11/12

What to Do If You Wake up in the Middle of the Night You know how sometimes you randomly wake up at 3:30 a.m. and feel like you're never going to be able to fall asleep again? It might seem counterintuitive, but experts suggest getting out of bed if you haven't fallen back to sleep after about 15 minutes.

"If you spend too much time in bed tossing and turning your brain will be too activated," says Newman. "And you'll likely end up feeling stressed about not sleeping."

Dry reading material may also help — Rodriguez suggests reading something boring in dim light (though try to avoid reading on a screen). Alternatively, do another mellow activity until you feel fatigued again then try to go back to sleep, according to Newman. (Pro tip: This also works great if you're trying to fall back asleep after a nightmare.)

The process of getting relaxed and tired again can take a while but resist the temptation to switch on the TV or browse Instagram. "The blue light will ensure to keep you awake till dawn!" cautions Hoyer.

And, do not look at the clock. Repeat: Do not look at the clock.

Image via Francesco Carta fotografo/Getty

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