5 Behaviors Of People Who Fall Asleep Fast And Stay Out Cold, According To Psychology

The easiest way to start changing your life is to get more sleep.

Last updated on Apr 04, 2020

Woman falls asleep and stays asleep. Kateryna Hliznitsova | Unsplash
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I used to live by the mantra, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Meanwhile, I was cranky, overweight, and all kinds of irritable.

Then, I began reading research on sleep, and all that amazing science convinced me to make improving my sleep habits and hygiene a priority.

How much sleep do you need? According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need to between seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

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Our minds and our bodies are designed to spend about a third of our lives asleep. I know many of us, especially in the US, tend to view sleep as "unproductive" time, but research shows us that this isn't the case.

You might be surprised to learn that sleep is actually an active period for our bodies. I'm sure you've heard that our bodies need sleep in order to reinvigorate and renew. That's a true statement, of course, but it goes a little deeper.

Our bodies need periods of rest that are long enough to synthesize our hormones, grow muscle, and repair our damaged tissues. Sleep is also critical for our minds, an it helps us solidify and consolidate our memories.

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As we go about our daily lives, our brains take in vast amounts of information, leading many people these days to suffer from mental overwhelm. Information logged and stored in our short-term memory needs processing so that the brain can consolidate it into long-term memory. That process happens while we sleep.

Here are 5 behaviors of people who fall asleep fast and stay out cold, according to psychology:

1. Unplug at least an hour before bed

man who falls asleep fast and stays out cold because he unplugs hour before bed fast-stock / Shutterstock

Blue light inhibits our brain's ability to shut-down, so turn off the TV, computer, phone, and all tablet devices. Oh, and, no matter what, stop charging your phone in your bedroom.

RELATED: 8 Tiny Habits That Will Make You A Better Sleeper Than 98% Of People

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2. Establish a bedtime routine

woman who will fall asleep fast and stay out cold with a bedtime routine Impact Photography / Shutterstock

This can included shutting down your home and tending to your personal needs, such as brushing your teeth, washing your face and taking your medications.

Make sure your evening routines include setting up a "launch pad" for the next day. Make lunches. Prep the coffee pot. Choosing an outfit. Put your gym bag together. Basically, do any such things that will make getting out the door in the morning easier.

This keeps you from worrying as much about everything that normally would need to be done in the mornings, and it signals to your body that the day is coming to a close.

RELATED: 11 Things Fancy Sleep People Do Before Bed That Actually Work

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3. Make your bedroom a sacred space

woman who falls fast asleep and stays out cold making bedroom sacred space Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock

You should only do two things in your bed: sleep and be intimate.

Don't work in bed. Don't watch TV in bed. And definitely don't pile your laundry on the bed.

RELATED: Harvard Researchers Discovered A 4-Hour Rule That Is More Important For A Good Night’s Sleep Than Getting 8 Hours

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4. Create a better sleep environment

woman who falls asleep and stays out cold by creating better sleep environment George Rudy / Shutterstock

This includes making sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable and putting quality sheets and blankets on your bed. It also means blocking lights and sounds that keep you awake.

Make your bed every morning, so when you come into your bedroom at night it feels more welcoming and inviting. Temperature is also important; set the thermostat somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

RELATED: 11 Wild Sleep Facts That Explain Why You’re Still Tired No Matter What

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5. Stick to a sleep schedule

man who falls asleep fast and stays out cold sleep schedule Prostock-studio / Shutterstock

Try to go to bed and get up at about the same time every day. Yes, I know that means not sleeping in on the weekends, but your body functions at its best when it has a routine.

If you commit to making better sleep a priority for just 30 days, I promise you'll feel better and you'll understand what all those sleep scientists are talking about.

You'll discover that when you are well rested, your skin looks healthier, your body feels more alive, and you'll be less likely to overeat. You'll also be more productive, think more clearly and creatively, and discover that you are better able to manage your emotions and the stresses of life.

In short, more sleep makes you look and feel more healthy and beautiful, inside and out!

RELATED: The One Habit Well-Rested People Use To Fall Asleep In Minutes

Debra Smouse is a life coach and author.

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