When it comes to prepping for a good night’s sleep, it’s fair to say that practically everyone misses the mark occasionally. That being said, there are plenty of super easy, albeit super weird tricks that you can do to help you get the rest that you deserve.
We personally love these 11 sleeping hacks because they’re a) practically effortless and b) either completely free or very inexpensive. For full tutorials on each and every trick, be sure to follow the links below.
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Stretch away your aches and pains
Back problem sufferers, listen up! You won’t get a good night’s sleep whilst tossing and turning in agony. Instead, bust that back pain with a series of pre-bedtime stretches—you’ll be amazed by how a 5-minute routine can relax both your body and mind.
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Invest in houseplants
Believe it or not, decorating your bedroom with houseplants such as aloe vera, English ivy, and valerian will not only make your pad look chicer, the plants’ special properties will also help you sleep better, too!
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Tweak your pillow
Let’s be honest—most pillows were designed with a “one-size-fits-all” mentality, but we hardly live in a “one-size-fits-all” world! So, instead of struggling with a pillow that’s doing nothing for you, consider folding it or re-situating it so that it better conforms to your unique body shape. Makes sense!
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Don’t forget those socks
There’s a reason why your mother made you wear socks to bed! Even if you’re not cold when you go to sleep, that doesn’t mean you’ll be comfortable throughout the night. Studies have shown that people sleep much better when their extremities—i.e. their hands and feet—are nice and toasty. Talk about an easy fix!
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Sleep on your left side
It may sound odd, but studies have shown that sleeping on the left-side—as opposed to the right, stomach, or back—helps to reduce snoring and may just end up improving heart function.
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Ditch your devices once the lights go out
Do we even have to explain this one? Whether or not you want to admit it, that blinding blue light from your cell phone isn’t doing anything to promote a good night’s rest!
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Mind your breathing
Pioneered by wellness guru Dr. Andrew Weil, the yoga-inspired 4-7-8 breathing technique brings most participants into dreamland within the first 60 seconds. At first, we thought it sounded WAY too good to be true, but our opinion quickly changed once we tried it and fell asleep before we could poo-poo the technique any further!
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Use reverse psychology
That’s right, simply telling yourself that you’re not tired can actually help you fall asleep fast. Don’t believe us? The University of Glasgow swears by this offbeat psychology technique—and they have the receipts to prove that it works!
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Drink banana tea
For centuries, people have been sipping on banana tea before bedtime to ease racing minds and lessen nighttime anxiety. Just peel the fruit, boil it in a saucepan filled with water, and you’re good to go!
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Sleep next to a lemon
If you suspect that your sleep issues are connected to your allergies, then this is the hack for you! Simply cut a lemon in half and place the fruit on your nightstand until morning. This weird trick does two things: the citrus 1) cleanses the air of impurities and 2) works to lessen anxiety. How cool is that?!
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Sleep naked
Help your sleep (and maybe even your relationship!) by ditching those pajamas and sleeping naked tonight. The idea here is that sporting bare skin allows would-be snoozers to regulate their body temperature better, especially if night sweats are a concern. Comfy AND sexy—we’re in!
Don’t even try to pretend like you aren’t going to take a stab at one (or five!) of these sleep techniques tonight! In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this list. Have you tried any of these weird insomnia busters before? If so, how did they work for you? Do you have any of your own that you would like to add to the list?