How To Sleep Better

Have you found during this tumultuous season of pandemic that you are struggling to maintain a consistent sleep pattern?

I tend to fall asleep easily but wake during the night, I never seem to get a full nights sleep. I want to share with you a few simple tips to help you wind down in the evening and hopefully garner a better nights sleep.

1. Set all your devices ( mobile phone, computers, laptops, iPads )to ‘night mode’ or ‘ night light settings’ in the evening, I do mine for around 7pm. This will emit a warm light instead of the blue light also know as HEV – ‘High Energy Visible Light’ which effects sleep in a big way.
2. Stay off your phone and keep it downstairs or away from you bedroom. I try to stop looking at my phone from 8pm and I leave it on the dining room table. I have an actual clock by my bed to look at the time.
3. Lower your intake of caffeine or ideally opt for caffeine free after 6pm
4. Start the process of winding down at least an hour before bed. You could do some relaxing yoga or meditation, read or listen to a podcast.
5. If I’ve had a particularly restless night, the next day I like to put all my bedding in the wash so it’s fresh and fluffy again.
6. Invest in a pillow spray or diffuser, I find these incredibly soothing and comforting.
7. Open the window. There is something so remedying of the cool night air drifting in. I also love the sounds of the night from woodland creatures to a car in the distance. I find subtle sound to have a lulling effect rather than stark silence.
8. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time. I go to bed at 10pm and read till 11pm and I usually get up at 6-7am. If I wake at 5am I will just get up.

Your Turn – What are some helpful sleep tips that you find effective?