Have you ever gone to bed, think you were tired enough to sleep, and you just lay there looking at the clock wondering why you can't sleep? We've all done it at some point or another in our lives. Most of the time it's because you aren't adequately relaxed enough to fall asleep and to sleep well. Here are 8 easy ways to relax before bed so that you can fall asleep quicker and sleep better.

Teas- One of the popular ways to relax before bed is to drink some relaxing herbal teas. There are many different types of herbal teas that you can drink to promote relaxation. The most common herbal tea for relaxing is chamomile tea. Chamomile has an apple-like flavor so it's very easy on the palate. You can also try valerian, which is used as a sleep aid, kava-kava, which is used to alleviate anxiety and even peppermint tea to ease tension and stress. There are many different blends of teas out there to help you relax before bed. Just try out a few of them and see which ones you like the best and which ones help to relax you the most.

Wine- Many people like to have a glass of wine to relax before bed. A nice, sweet red wine is the most popular type of wine for relaxing before bed but only you can know which ones are best for you. If you don't like red wine then, obviously, you aren't going to want to drink a glass of red wine for bed. Also consider the alcohol content. Some people respond better to a lower alcohol content while others prefer a higher content in order to adequately relax. The choice is yours to make.

Books- Reading is another popular way to relax. I love to read before bed. Reading is very relaxing to me and can even induce some very interesting entertainment, through my dreams, for the night. Now if you are not a reader, reading to relax probably isn't going to work for you. Also reading topics that do not interest you will not be very relaxing either. Pick something that you enjoy reading, something with a nice pace and nothing too scary. Curl up in a comfy spot and read away. Before you know it, you will be ready for bed and relaxed enough to go right to sleep.

Music- Listening to music is another great way to relax before bed. You can combine a nice play list of relaxing music with you cup of tea or glass of wine. Sit back, relax, drink your tea and listen to your soft music. I wouldn't suggest anything loud or stimulating though. Pick something soothing and peaceful. You could even take you music into the bathroom to help you out with my next suggestion.

Bath- A bath. It's a simple and easy way to relax. A nice, hot bubble bath is one of my most favorite ways to relax before bed, especially when my husband worked nights. The best time to take your relaxing bath would be after everyone else has gone to bed. Put the kids to bed, make sure they are asleep, and then head to the bathroom with your music and glass of wine. Throw in some bath salts, bath oils or just some essential oils and then dive right in. Sit back and soak in the hot, relaxing water until it starts to cool down. After you get out of the tub, slather on your favorite body lotion and you will be ready for bed.

Massage- If your significant other is home with you in the evenings, you may consider asking them to give you a nice massage. It doesn't have to be a full body massage in order to relax you enough to sleep well. If your feet are aching then get a foot massage. If you back is hurting then get a back massage. Same goes for neck and shoulder aches and pains. You can set the mood with wine, music, dim lighting and something fragrant like candles and/or essential oils. Keep in mind that you may be expected to provide a massage in return.

Exercise- Some people say that you shouldn't exercise before bed. Exercise can keep some people awake but if you aren't one of those people then exercise could be a huge help in relaxing you before bed. I've always found that exercise relaxes me throughout the day. So if I exercise in the morning I will actually be very relaxed, and could even take a nap, for a couple of hours following my workout.

Sex- While sex could be considered in the exercise category, I wanted to give sex it's own section. We all know that sex releases hormones into your body. Those hormones are great for relaxing you before bed. There's nothing like that "high" you get after a dose of good sex. As a matter of fact, you could use all of the previous suggestions to lead up to sex. Boy, you would sleep good after all of that! So why not enjoy a little one-on-one time with your significant other?

All of these suggestions can be used alone or in combination to promote relaxation before you head to bed. It is up to you to choose which one, or more than one, of these will work best for your situation. It is so important to be relaxed in order to have a good night's sleep. Everyone needs to sleep so why not make the best of it and help your body to prepare for bedtime. Your body needs to recharge so help it by relaxing beforehand.