Did you know that the 19th of March is World Sleep Day? That’s right, falling in National Sleep month there is no better time to focus on the many benefits of a good night’s sleep, and how to tackle any sleep problems that may occur.
Landing on the Friday before the Spring Equinox, we think taking the time to look at your sleep and assess your patterns is an essential part of ‘spring cleaning’. Setting you up for the next year both mentally and physically. We’ll be taking a long nap later to celebrate, however now we’re focusing on highlighting the most common and searched questions regarding sleep…
Studies have shown that most of us experience sleep issues at some point of our lives, which have a knock on effect to our overall well being, and a good night’s rest is important for everyone on our planet, from young to old. That’s why World Sleep Day was founded in 2008 to highlight the many issues around sleep in today’s busy world and to encourage us to focus on our sleep hygiene.
With reports of a rise in insomnia cases, due to increased anxiety through the pandemic, now more than ever it is important to take a step back and focus on how your sleep can improve, and there are easy, simple ways to record this. First up, keep a note every morning of how you feel when you wake up. If you’re aching or stiff this could be a sign you need a new mattress or if you wake with low energy, sinus symptoms or feeling irritated and itchy, this could be a sign of allergies to the material your mattress or bedding is made from.
Secondly, record how much time you sleep per night. 8 hours of sleep a night is important for our overall well being, keeping both our minds and bodies fresh. This is when your mind processes all the information from the day and your body works through the detoxification ritual. You may feel like you are resting at this point, but your body is indeed working hard to prepare you for the next day.
Note disturbances, if you wake up through the night note this down, especially how you feel. You could be waking to use the toilet (in this case, it is recommended you drink less before bed) or if you are waking constantly at the same time, this could be a sign of insomnia.
Our top tips on how you can instantly improve your sleep:
- Wash your sheets. There is nothing quite like going to bed in freshly laundered bedding. It might sound obvious but this small step can help your mind subconsciously relax and drift off.
- Listen to a soothing playlist or podcast. TV beds are perfect for this, simply select a highly rated AMSR of rain or waves, relax and let the surround sound system send you to slumber.
- Develop a consistent sleep schedule, go to bed at the same time and aim to wake up every day at a consistent time. This sets a balance with your circadian rhythms, forming a pattern both your body and brain gets used to.
We’ve looked into more tried and tested methods for sleep here, so hopefully, this World Sleep Day you can lie back and fall into a deep sleep to celebrate.