Trouble Sleeping? Try Some of These Artistic and Creative Activities Before Bed
Do you have a bad habit of scrolling through social media before bed? Maybe you watch a few too many episodes of your favorite TV show on your laptop once the sun has gone down. Do you answer some emails in bed before calling it a night? If so, did you know that this is actually harmful to your relationship with sleep?
Continue reading to learn what unhealthy habits you should cut before bed, and healthier alternatives you can do in their place.
Blue light interferes with your brain
Our phones and computers emit what is called blue light.
This blue light interrupts the mechanoreceptors in our brain that tell us it’s time to hit the hay once it gets dark outside. Interrupting this process makes it difficult to fall asleep during those late hours of the evening. Our brains are telling us that the day isn’t over. It’s just begun. So, how do we counteract this?
Well, the best thing you can do is put away all of your devices and opt for another habitual activity before bed. You’ll start to notice within a week how much easier it is to fall asleep and stay asleep. Here are some great and creative alternatives to keep you off your phone. From solving a 1000 pc puzzle to coloring before bed—make sure to give them each a shot.
Adult coloring books
Coloring is a soothing activity and is a great way of unwinding after a long day. You can purchase an adult coloring book and gel pens at a local craft store and switch to doing this before bed instead of your ritual screentime.
Reading
If it’s been a while since you’ve picked up a book, go to the library and check a few titles out. Reading before bed is a great way to relax, use your imagination, and rebuild a better relationship with sleep.
Working on a 1000 pc puzzle: difficult puzzles for adults
This is a great way of putting your brain into a meditative state. Scientifically speaking, solving puzzles help our brains relax psychologically. This is also something that can be easily implemented into your evening routine. The best part is, that once it’s complete, you can hang up your hard work in a 1000 piece puzzle frame to frame your puzzle and display it for all your guests to see.
However, if you have never completed a 1000 piece puzzle, and want something easier to solve, try a 500 piece puzzle instead. It's slightly less challenging but still has the same benefits as a more difficult puzzle.
Creative outlets for better sleep
Though we live in a society overrun by technology, nighttime is the optimal time to put those devices to rest so that you can catch up on yours.
There are many ways you can unwind before bed that don't involve our smartphones, so if you want to try for less screentime in the evening try solving a 1000 pc puzzle, coloring, or even reading a book.
You’ll notice within a week, that you’ll feel much more creatively fulfilled and energized.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
