I have always been a peaceful sleeper, drifting off in minutes and only getting up to the sound of the blasting alarm. But somehow things changed after I got married. For days, I laid restless in the bed unable to sleep, twisting and turning from one side to the other. Then, after I finally passed out, I would get up in the morning with body ache. The struggle was real. I closely analysed my situation and made a few changes that helped me get shut-eye without any hiccups and it might impact your sleep quality too.

1. I Changed My Mattress

Every morning I got up, I could see dents in the mattress in the areas I placed my body weight and it was visibly uneven. Those were the signs that the mattress we were using wasn’t appropriate. The visible sagging was a sign that the mattress was kaput and that was exactly the cause of my body pain. So to kick my sleep make-over, I started with the changing my mattress. I got a memory foam mattress which is best known for its great support, pressure relief, and body contouring.

After a few nights of sleeping in the new mattress, I realised that my morning body pain was a thing of the past. Plus, my mid-sleep insomnia moments also vanished. It is not just me who spotted the difference. After a week or two, my husband compared my sleep to a log. Here Are Some Common Myths That Compromise Good Sleep And Health.

2. I Stopped Late Night Snacking

After attempting several times, I finally put my late-night Zomato orders to a stop. I have often indulged in late-night doughnuts – suffered unsettled sleep – and knew it too well that late-night eating messed with my sleep. I made a new rule for myself – no eating after 9 pm and it worked miraculously.

However, sticking to this rule was more difficult than I expected especially when my husband would stock the fridge with pies and chocolates. My husband did not participate in my food curfew, so water became my biggest support. Now, I sip water whenever I crave for something sweet or savoury. Sleep Myths on Snoring and Drinking Before Bedtime Busted by Researchers.

3. I Cut Off From Netflix

I turned down another bad habit. I drastically reduced my screen time which meant no Netflix binge and no Instagram and Facebook. Several studies suggest that screen time can reduce your production of melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone. In turn, your brain feels wired which results in poor sleep. So now I go screen-free 30 minutes before bed.

But that wasn’t easy either. I realised I forgot how to go to bed without my phone. So to keep myself occupied, I read a book until I fell asleep. Much to my surprise, I drifted off earlier this way.

I am astounded by how effective these simple changes were. Now it is uncommon for me to obsess over food and the internet at night. I not only fall asleep faster and wake up less in the middle of the night but also feel rested in the morning.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 03:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).