More Tips for Better Sleep

If there’s one thing you can fall back on right now, it’s your mattress.

We’d be lying if we said that sleep troubles didn’t disrupt our peaceful nights from time to time...even with an OkiOki mattress.

If you, too, find yourself struggling to make it through the night, don’t sleep on it. Here are 10 new sleep tips that will transform your peaceful nights from just okay, to like, OkiOki.

1. Turn the clock forward on dinner.

We get it, that bowl of ice cream or bag of popcorn starts lookin’ reaaaaaaally good right around 10 p.m. For many of us, late-night snacking is an evening ritual. But eating at least three hours before bed, and avoiding large meals while you’re at it, allows your body to spend less time digesting your food, and more time maintaining a deep, restful state of sleep. Bye-bye midnight bowl of cereal.

2. Establish a bedtime routine.

It’s important to wind down and take time for yourself at the end of each day. In fact, finding a bedtime routine you enjoy will not only incorporate some TLC into your routine but can also help to form an association between sleep and that time of night. So, before getting into your OkiOki, do what you need -- wash your face, have a dance party, or read a book -- because your mattress will always be ready for you.

3. Surrender to complete darkness.

Light and dark are essential cues that signal the body’s internal clock. Therefore, drawing the shades, putting on a sleep mask, and sinking even deeper into your OkiOki will ensure that you achieve total darkness throughout the night. In turn, this will ensure you get the best quality sleep you can. Lights out, Oki?

4. Find your sound. 

If you’re one to get sleep-distracted by even the faintest of sounds, you’re not alone. Silence, snoring, and suspicious clicking might not be your lullaby of choice, and we don’t blame you. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to get you dozing. White noise, fans, or sleep apps like Calm and Headspace could be your perfect sound solution.

5. Do a guided meditation. 

Practicing meditation is one of the best ways to relax our bodies, calm our minds, and relieve us of any stress before getting under the covers. All you need is 10 minutes and you can completely transform a night’s worth of sleep-- because the better we are at letting go of the day, the more we can namastay in bed.

6. Undress your... bed. 

Is it just us, or does getting into a made bed at night make sleep just a little more special? The act of pulling back the sheets is something you should look forward to, a sign that the day is done, and that it’s finally time to be with your OkiOki. Also, making your bed is a great habit to keep: you’ll start your mornings on a productive note, feel much more organized throughout the day, and you’re way less likely to crawl back in (which is even more tempting with an OkiOki).

7. Watch your dreams, not your screens. 

No matter how you choose to frame it, your bed should be a space for your OkiOki, not your technology. We know-- the rabbit hole of YouTube videos and social media feeds is hard to resist. But we also know that you deserve to be getting all the peaceful nights you can. Before getting into bed, leave your phone out of arm’s reach, or even better, in a different room. This will help you disconnect from your device, fall asleep faster, and experience a better night’s rest altogether.

8. Here’s the tea. 

Tea equals better sleep. There. We said it. Drinking a warm cup of chamomile, tulsi, valerian root, or lavender tea -- caffeine-free of course -- before bedtime has been said to activate specific neurotransmitters that help to initiate sleep. And that…is the tea.

9. Consistency is key.

Don’t leave your mattress missing you. Instead, try and establish a consistent sleep schedule that works for you, and do your best to stick to it. Of course, life gets in the way sometimes, whether it be a night out with friends, a last-minute work assignment, or a late-night movie (we love late-night movies). But, honoring your body’s natural clock and giving yourself at least 7-9 hours of sleep as often as you can will do wonders for your energy and mood throughout the day.

10. More buzz ≠ more zz's.

Experts suggest that while alcohol may seem to help induce sleep initially, overall, it disrupts sleep by decreasing the quality and amount of time we spend in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. To avoid this interference, try cutting back on the number of days you have a drink each week, and be mindful of the quantity you have on those days. It might be difficult at first, but we promise, your dreams will thank you later.

We love sleep, and you should too. Sleep affects our energy, our happiness, and essentially everything we do. By implementing just two or three of these sleep tips into your daily routine, you could improve not just the quality of your sleep, but also the quality of your life outside your OkiOki.