You have probably already decided to exercise more and eat healthier in 2018, but what about getting more, or better, sleep this year?
Sleep is essential to maintaining your physical and mental health and wellbeing, but fewer and fewer of us are getting an adequate amount of sleep (a third of us get by on as little as five to six hours a night ).
While around seven to eight hours of sleep per night is considered the norm, do not get too hung up on the number. Yes, it is important to ensure you get enough, but it is also about the quality of sleep you get. Some of us function perfectly fine with six or six and a half hours a night, whereas those who get eight still feel sleepy and want more.
The start of a new year is an ideal time to assess your sleep quality and change any old habits that hamper a good nights sleep.
Here are some things to consider:
Why not try going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time — you will be amazed at how your body will love you for it.
Try new ideas in the bedroom – think curtains, lighting, etc – to make it the ideal sleeping environment. Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep so if you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, consider removing gadgets (TVs, tablets, phones ) from the room.
Seek out ways to improve your lifestyle. Overhaul your diet, caffeine consumption, and exercise regime. Small changes can have a huge impact on your sleep quality and quantity.
Think about the hours before bed. Experiment with new ways to relax, such as warm baths with calming scents, quiet soothing music, reading, gentle stretching, and yoga.
Give some thought to what you are sleeping on. If it is an old mattress (more than seven years ) then maybe it is time to look at buying a new one. What you sleep on affects how you sleep – research has shown that a new mattress can increase the amount of sleep you get by 42 minutes.
For expert advice contact the Better Bedding sleep experts at Sean Mulvoy Road, Galway, phone 091 756766, www.betterbedding.ie
