Sleep - we hated it when we were kids, and now it’s a joy to hop into a nice bed at the end of a busy day.
So, what do you do if you're not getting what you need at night?
You wake up multiple times during the night, your alarm seems to ring far too soon, and you go to work feeling tired and stressed.
Not a good start to your day.
Well, we have some simple habits to incorporate into your routine to ensure you're getting enough good quality sleep.
Bedroom basics
Obviously, the actually bed you sleep in is crucial.
From the mattress, to the duvet, to the pillows; it all needs to work for you.
Don’t just run out and buy the first duvet you see; think about your needs and buy accordingly - you'll be thankful you did your research in the long run.
Deep-sleep darkness
Blackout blinds - you have no idea how amazing it is to roll these bad boys down at the end of the day before hopping into bed.
It makes a HUGE difference, and is definitely worth the extra investment.
It also means if you do manage to get to bed early, you won’t be kept awake by evening light.
Power off
We know it’s all well in theory, but get rid of electronics for at least an hour before bed.
Laptops, tablets and televisions have no place in the bedroom, and can cause you to lose a lot of sleep.
Develop a routine
About 20 to 30 minutes before you want to get into bed, start your bedtime routine.
Picking out your clothes for the next day, prepping the kids' lunches, attempting to follow some sort of skincare regime, and having one last look at your social media can make for a much more relaxing sleep, as you’re not worrying about all the things you forgot to do and have to do in the morning.
It also will save you time in the morning, meaning no major rush and maybe, if you're lucky, an extra 15 minutes in bed - WIN!
Write it down
A lot of ideas, plans, things you remember you need to do/buy will come to mind in those first few minutes after laying your head on the pillow.
So, avoid over-thinking and keeping your brain awake by having a pen and a little notepad by your bed, and if anything pops to mind just jot in down.
It will stop you tossing and turning thinking about it, and you can get back to the important work of shutting down.
Out of sight, out of mind
If you’re an alarm clock kind of person, then don’t have it right by the bed.
The bright lights of the clock can stimulate the mind and keep you awake. Put it somewhere that isn’t in your line of vision from the pillow, or just point it away from you.
It will also force you to get out of bed when the alarm rings, which makes it less likely that you'll repeatedly hit 'snooze'.
Alarm bells
Don’t pick an alarm that’s scary and jarring, if at all possible.
Now, if you’re a heavy sleeper and need it, that's fair; but if something a little softer will do the same job, make the switch.
It will save the heart palpitations that loud buzzer gives you every morning.
