During the lockdown, it's been reported that many people have been experiencing more intense and surreal dreams, with some people finding getting off to sleep more difficult than usual. This lockdown, I've been listening to guided relaxation meditations before bed and have found it's improved my sleep routine.
Here are some helpful tips on ways to improve your sleep from Matt Walker, author of the best selling book " Why We Sleep".
Stick to a Sleep schedule. We often have an alarm to wake up, so why not try an alarm to get you to bed in the evenings. Consistency is key.
Avoid Caffeine after lunch. Common caffeine consumption is from coffee, tea and chocolate. Caffeine can have a significant effect even after 10 hours. Having a coffee at noon will mean that at 10 pm you'll still have a quarter of that caffeine in your brain.
Have a gadget-free bedroom. Or if you need your phone in your room, have it out of reach so you have to be physically standing up to use it. This will create healthier habits for falling asleep.
Get ready for bed earlier. We function best on between 7-9 hours sleep, and this is the time we are actually sleeping, not the time we get into bed.
Create a bedtime ritual. Let yourself unwind slowly; with more gentle activities such as reading, listening to music, light stretching or meditation.
Sleep is important for our physical and mental health. With around 8 hours sleep we are better equipped to fight off viruses and illness. During REM sleep, our mind resets our anxiety levels and finds solutions to our worries. That's why the phrase "Why don't you sleep on it?" actually works.
If you're struggling with sleep and would like some more advice, drop me an email for some more suggestions and tips.
