Can’t sleep? Apparently none of us can. According to sleep experts our collective insomnia is linked to lockdown and our new normal. We’re all adapting to new routines left, right and centre so it makes sense that our sleeping patterns are non-existent. With so much to deal with and take on its no wonder our minds go into overdrive when we’re supposed to switch off. If like us you’re tired of bad sleep follow our handy guide to beat your bags and have the dreamiest night’s sleep ever. We’re talking 8 hours at least …
This is easier said than done now that TikTok has taken over our lives but switching off an hour before bedtime is essential. Boring, we know, but all that blue light is doing nothing for your beauty sleep. Social media is addictive but so is a good night’s sleep. Swap one fix for another by putting your phone on airplane mode and picking up a book instead.
The golden rule for good sleep is to keep your bedroom a sleep-only zone but this can be tricky during lockdown. If you’re WFH it might be hard to create that separation but there are ways to work around it. If a bedroom office is your only option, create two different atmospheres for day and night. This way your brain will begin to recognise when to switch on and off. For example, try and finish work at the same time every day and only get into bed at bedtime.
Quarantine hasn’t stopped us being night owls. Don’t know about you but we’ve replaced staying out until 2am with late night zoom calls and movie marathons. It’s fun but the hectic bedtimes have definitely taken a toll on our sleep. Going to bed at roughly the same time every night and sticking to a routine is proven to help you drift off and, more importantly, stay off.
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-made bed. Nothing beats that fresh sheet feeling so invest in your comfort and make bedtime as enjoyable as possible. Whether that’s splashing out on new bedding, treating yourself to a calming pillow spray or simply upgrading your fabric softener. It’s the little things that will help you boss your broken sleeping pattern. Sure, it might not be an instant fix but actually looking forward to snuggling down at bedtime will definitely help.
Moving your body really does help you get a good night’s sleep! In fact, it’s been proven that 30 minutes of exercise turns into an extra 14 minutes of snoozing. Lockdown has turned most of us into proud couch potatoes but by doing a little exercise each day we could massively improve our sleep. The good news is you don’t have to run a 5k to feel the benefits. Gentle yoga works just as well. So, turn off the tv and get moving!
12% of people dream in black and white.
Within 5 minutes of waking up, 50% of our dreams are forgotten.
Humans spend 1/3 of their life sleeping.
Eating cheese before bedtime doesn’t give you nightmares but apparently different types of cheeses result in different kinds of dreams.
Sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.
The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes.
Women sleep more than men.
Creative people sleep more but less well.
Stress + anxiety affect sleep.
Having a bad night’s sleep can feel the same as being hungover.
According to Nasa, the perfect nap last 26 minutes.
Got a problem? Sleep on it. REM sleep is proven to help creative solving.