How to get a good night's sleep when stressed

When stress comes knocking late at night, it can be hard to shake it off. Check out the comic below to find out how Sai learnt to live with late night stress and caught some much-needed zeds.

Download a text version of this comic.

Stress is a normal part of life, so learning to live with it, rather than fighting it or giving into it, can help you to chill out a bit. Use these strategies to get a good night’s sleep when you’re feeling stressed.

Take time to wind down

Giving yourself half an hour before bedtime to relax can help prepare your body and mind to clock off for the night. Try playing some calming music, reading a book, doing some light yoga or stretches, or meditating.

Skip the screens

Blue light emitted by digital devices, including phones, tablets and TVs, can signal to your brain that it’s time to wake up. Avoid screens right before bedtime to give yourself the best chance of a good night’s sleep.

Write it down

If there are things worrying you, writing them down can help you to declutter your mind. You can also use this strategy to track those things that repeatedly stress you out, so you can learn better ways to manage them. If you’re stressed about all the stuff you need to do, write a to-do list that you can tackle the next day.

Add exercise to your day

Exercise is a great mood booster and can help to release physical and mental tension. Many people like to exercise first thing in the morning, as a healthy start to their day, while others might prefer later in the afternoon. It’s usually best to try and exercise at least a few hours before bedtime so that your body has time to cool down afterwards.