8 Ways to Get a Good Night's Sleep, Tonight!

Let me guess…you passed out with your laptop open in your bed again last night thanks to [insert your current Netflix obsession here]. Been there. Well, if you’re wondering why you felt like a zombie the next day, chances are your MacBook cuddle session is to blame. According to the Huffington Post, there are a number of dos and don’ts when it comes to getting some decent sleep — several of which aren’t as obvious as others (e.g. coffee after 5 p.m.). Here are a few unsuspecting laws to live by if you want to get some decent sleep, according to HuffPo:

1. DON’T watch TV or play on your computer too close to bedtime.

Unless it's a documentary about kittens, watching any conflict-driven TV show or film (so every TV show and every film) before bed is a bad idea. Bright screens too late at night also have a tendency to mess with your head and prevent sleep from happening, so power off!

2. DO get a new pillow.

I have some bad news: there are probably dust mites in your old pillows right now and you might be allergic to them. I know, scary! Use this as an excuse to go get a new pillow, and maybe even upgrade to something fluffier and fancier than your previous one.

3. DON’T eat protein too late at night!

Protein requires a lot from your digestive system, which makes it hard for the rest of your body to fall asleep. I know, night cheese seems like a good idea, but maybe switch to night fruit?

4. DO open your blinds when you wake up.

Natural sunlight is the best way to wake up your brain first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed could be as easy as drawing the curtains or opening a window!

5. DON’T cuddle with pets.

I know, this one sucks, but unless your pet is of the plush variety, it's probably a good idea to keep it out of your bed. Animals can wake you up in the middle of the night just by moving a paw. That, and apparently cats are natural born killers... just saying.

6. DO sleep and have sex in your bed…but that's it.

You can do a lot of magnificent, wonderful, mind-blowing things in bed, but stressing about work should not be among them. Watching Netflix, reading a book, or working on your laptop while horizontal could make your bed a stressful place — which is not what you're going for.

7. DON’T have a drink before bed.

You might want to rethink the whole "glass of wine before bed" thing. As it turns out, alcohol can easily disrupt your sleep — so save the drinking for happy hour!

8. DO set an alarm to go to sleep.

I know it sounds crazy, but setting an alarm could help you stick to your desired bed time. Saying you’ll fall asleep at 9:30 is a tough one, but setting an alarm to help you start relaxing before going to sleep could make a huge difference!