Top Sleeping Tips! | Lifestyle

We've all struggled to sleep at some points in our life, correct? Whether it's because of stress, anxiety, over thinking or just not even feeling remotely tired! It is important that you get at least eight hours of good sleep during the night so that you feel refreshed and energised the next day! Here's my top ten tips to help you get your well deserved kip!

1. Get off Facebook!- That's right, you need to get rid and switch off those electronic items in your room where you have access to films and programs or social media. This is because it's a stimulant and will keep your mind active for long periods of time. Do you really think playing a few levels of Candy Crush is going to help you sleep? WRONG! Studies also suggest that the blue lights emitted from electronic devices like phones and TV's reduce your body's natural melatonin levels, making it harder for you to relax and wind down. Your room is called a bedroom for a reason, so turn it off and swap it for a nice book!

Personal Experience: The other night Tom slept over and we both struggle to sleep. So we used our phones and watched a film in another room, then went to our room to sleep with our phones switched off and left behind. We went out like lights!

    2. Have a bath- Yeah, you stink....I joke of course. But seriously, having a bath with lots of nice

        oils and bubbles is so relaxing, especially with herbal scented products. I would recommend

        having a gander at some of the products on the Neal's Yard website, as they promote natural 

        well-being by selling and producing products that are 100% natural and commonly used for

        aroma therapy. Having a bath also relaxes the muscles in your bodies so you can just flop

        on your bed afterwards and have a brilliant night's sleep!

    3. Dump the tea- You may thing green tea is natural and calming...well, just keep it for that Teatox

        diet rather than helping you sleep, because a mug of green tea can contain up to 45mg of 

        caffeine! 

 

           

       4. Set yourself a bed time- Yes, I know this is a pre-school sort of thing but it actually works.

           Plan your day around your sleep and make sure you have everything you need to do done by

           a reasonable time in the evening so you can relax. The later this time is, the less sleep you will

           get and the more tired you will be the next day. Sleeping later also means you will get up later,

           so you may risk wasting the day too! 

        5. Cut back on lie ins- It's good to have a lie in and pyjama day every so often, but referring 

            back to my previous point, it wastes so much of your day doing fun stuff. It will also make

            you fall into a vicious cycle of sleeping in late, having all your energy at later times in the

            day because of this and not sleeping until late at night. And trust me, that's a hard cycle to

            break!

         6. Stop napping!- You won't get to sleep later at night if you have a long doze during the day!

             Plus, mid-day naps can also leave you really grumpy. 

           7. Get active- Having a busy day and engaging in physical activity can always wear you

               out and make you a bit more relaxed and sleepy in the evenings. Arrange a day out with

               some friends and/or family to do some fun things, whether it's going to the local park for

               a long walk or even ice skating!

           8. Scared of the dark?- The dark naturally helps your brain to shut down and relax, however

               some people are scared of the dark and prefer to sleep with the light on, which is 

               stimulating for the brain. Invest in some pretty fairy lights or a dim lamp and notice the 

               difference.

           9. Try some aromatherapy- No, it's not something you have to go out and do, although some

               places do offer workshops! Aromatherapy is basically relaxing your body with the

               assistance of certain scents such as lavender and aloe vera. There are some certain products

               I would really recommend if you're considering trying this...

•  Planet Spa Sleep Therapy Pillow Mist by Avon- A really relaxing, herbal scent which isn't too overpowering but does the trick. Can also be purchased with head balm and bath lotions.
• Remedies to Roll: Night Time by Neal's Yard- A slightly stronger scent than Avon's pillow mist, in a roll on form. You can roll it into the skin on your neck and/or wrists, just like a perfume! 

           10. None of the above working?- Chronic Insomnia is a big problem and can make you

                 seriously ill. If you have tried every recommended trick under the sun, it is important

                 that you see your GP so they can point you the right way for further support and treatment.

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Happy Sleeping! xo