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Take a Warm Bath

Time it right and add some relaxing ingredients


A smiling woman relaxing in a bubble bath
Klaus Tiedge/Getty Images

Quick Win

Soaking in a warm tub may help you fall asleep faster.

Try This Today

  • Slip into a warm bath about an hour or two before bed.
  • The optimum temperature for a pre-bed bath is 104 to 108.5 degrees, research shows. If you’re not sure how warm 104 feels, you can test the water with a food or meat thermometer.
  • Relax to the max: Try some Epsom salts, naturally scented bubble bath or a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, such as lavender.

Why

Soaking in a warm tub one or two hours before bed helped people fall asleep 10 minutes faster, according to a 2019 review of 13 studies in Sleep Medicine Reviews.

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