How to Calm Your Mind after a Stressful Day
This shop has been compensated by P&G and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyBestZzzs #CollectiveBias
I haven’t always been the best sleeper. When I was younger, it wasn’t unusual for me to take over an hour to fall asleep. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten better about creating a nighttime routine that helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. But one of the things that can still interrupt my sleep is stress. If I have a lot on my mind, it’s even harder for me to fall asleep.
So if you’ve had a stressful day or you have trouble shutting your brain off before going to bed, here are my tips for unwinding!
1. Get your to-do list on paper
One thing that keeps me from falling asleep is thinking about all the things I need to do the next day. If I didn’t finish my whole to-do list, or if I feel like I don’t have an outline of what I need to do the next day, it can distract me from being able to sleep.
2. Practice journaling
I usually find that writing things down helps clear my head, similar to writing down my to-do list. If I have any negative thoughts or worries from the day, sometimes I need to get them on paper to get them out of my head. After I write down the things I need to get done, I dig into any other thoughts that could keep me from feeling relaxed. Once I get it down on paper, I can usually let it go.
3. Try melatonin or other natural sleep supplements
If I need to go to sleep, but I don’t feel sleepy, I’ll take melatonin. ZzzQuil recently came out with a couple of new sleep aids that are awesome if you need a little nudge to fall asleep! ZzzQuil Pure Zzz’s De-Stress and Sleep gummies help calm your mind and body for more restful sleep.
Interested in trying out new ZzzQuil products? Hover over the photo to click through and purchase at Walmart!
It contains melatonin and ashwagandha so you can relax naturally. Plus, the blackberry vanilla flavor is delicious!
I also tried ZzzQuil Pure Zzz’s Melatonin Liquid, which is a blend of botanicals like chamomile, lavender, valerian root, and lemon balm in addition to melatonin. (I love that it’s free of lactose, alcohol, artificial flavors, and corn syrup!)
It took me a little while to find these products, but you can usually find them at Walmart. At my store, they were actually near the NyQuil, not the sleep supplements, so keep an eye out for them by the pharmacy! You can also see their other ZzzQuil products here.
4. Download a meditation app
I use the Calm app for timed meditation. It’s just a simple timer, but it helps me focus on, well, nothing! The app also has guided meditations, which can be helpful if that’s your thing! Sometimes when I’m traveling, my mind will start racing, and it can be hard for me to relax. When that happens, I pull up meditation videos on YouTube. That might sound crazy, but it helps me relax and focus my thoughts on one thing!
5. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon
I drink a lot of coffee in the morning, but I try not to drink it after lunch. If I know I’ll have a late night, and I need a pick me up, I’ll usually reach for tea. That can give me a little boost without as much caffeine as I’d get from coffee.
After 2 pm, I try to avoid caffeine entirely. If I want a beverage with a little flavor, I’ll reach for flavored seltzer. After dinner, if I need something to sip on, I’ll fill my mug with a bit of decaffeinated tea. Sometimes the simple ritual of making a cup of tea can help me start to wind down mentally!
If you need more tips for falling asleep, try my tiny tweaks for a better night of sleep!
Do you have any tips for unwinding after a stressful day? Share them below!
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.