A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

2. Banish electronics before bed

Particularly on weeknights, when you have emails to catch up on and texts and missed calls to return, it seems impossible to be further than arm's length from your smartphone and laptop.

We may not think about it, but using our gadgets at night can really affect sleep, Krieger says. "The screens all emit light, and that becomes quite stimulating for the brain, affecting the production of neurotransmitters, and therefore impacting our ability to sleep well."

As much as you want to reach for your phone, try to keep the 20 minutes before bed completely electronics-free.

A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

3. Write down your thoughts

If you have a hard time clearing your mind of the day's thoughts, Krieger advises keeping a blank piece of paper on your nightstand and making what she calls a "worry list."

"This is one of the most important things for people who have a lot of content coming into their heads as they're trying to fall asleep, like to-do lists and worries," she says.

She says it can be beneficial to write down bullet points of your thoughts and the things you need to do in order to put them out of your mind.

A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

4. Don't think about sleep as you're trying to fall asleep

"One of the most basic rules is that you can't think about sleep, because the more you worry about sleep, the worse your sleep becomes," Krieger says.

If you're having trouble falling asleep, the worst thing you can do is get worked up about it. Becoming agitated will only keep you up longer, so take a few deep breaths and try to think about something that makes you happy instead.

If it takes some time, that's OK. Krieger says taking 15 or 20 minutes to actually fall asleep is normal.

A sleep specialist shares 5 tips for getting better rest on a work night

5. Maintain a regular sleep schedule throughout the week and weekend

Extreme changes in your schedule can have a negative impact on the quality of your rest and your ability to fall asleep.

"The body's circadian rhythm knows and recognizes the time we usually go to sleep, so it's very important for us to try to maintain that rhythm within a 24-hour stretch," Krieger explains.

Try to resist the urge to sleep in on Saturday morning, and instead get up within an hour of your weekday wake-up time.