Collaborative Post
As a mum of two, I really value my sleep. It can be tough to find some me time when you have children so I often find myself staying up late just so I can watch some TV that I want to or so I can read. However this means I end up going to bed late and then I can’t sleep – and a good night’s sleep is so important. It is important for our energy levels for the day ahead and can have an affect on our moods too. I know I get very irritable if I haven’t had a good nights sleep!
Many people believe in the misconception that if you are tired, it means you need more sleep but that isn’t always the case. It is all about the quality of sleep you have rather than the length. Obviously you should aim for the recommended optimum times but if it isn’t a good quality sleep, you will feel rotten.
I know that I can get the recommended amount of hours but if I keep getting woken up for a few minutes by a random sound or the kids or the dogs, it really messes me up for the day ahead.
A good night’s sleep isn’t hard to come by if you take notice of these top tips!
Regularly Replace Your Mattresses, Pillows & Duvet
We all change our sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers regularly but you should be changing your mattresses, pillows and duvets at certain times too. A decent mattress will usually last an average of eight years so if you are finding your sleep is being affected and your mattress is older than that, it might be worth changing it. Some may last longer and some may not last as long but that is the general rule of thumb that I have seen suggested for the optimum age of a mattress.
There are many types of mattresses to choose from – some prepare firm mattresses whilst others prefer softer ones. I personally like a memory foam mattress. They mould to the shape of your body to give you complete support from head to toe. It feels nice to be able to sink into the mould of your own body.
You should also make sure you have the best type of duvet for your needs – there are different togs to choose from, some more beneficial for certain seasons. A lighter one is much better for the summer season whilst a thicker and heavier one is much better for the winter season. I am naughty for this as I tend to have the same one the whole year round which means at least one season a year I am either too hot or too cold! How about you?
Avoid Eating & Drinking After A Certain Time
Try not to eat after a certain time because you will feel extremely uncomfortable if you feel stuffed. However you also don’t want to go to bed hungry so don’t eat too early either. You should also avoid certain substances late at night such as nicotine and caffeine as they can easily disrupt sleep.
Sugar and salt can also affect sleep which is why they suggest not eating after a certain time. Even healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables can lay heavy on your stomach before digestion when you are trying to sleep and you don’t want that. Sometimes you can even have your sleep disrupted by needing to go to the toilet midway through the night because the food has finished digesting.
You really need to consider what you are eating and drinking in the hours before you plan to go to bed.
Keep Fit
Physical exercise can be incredibly tiring and it is little wonder it is great for your sleep as well as your health. A decent workout routine can do you the world of good and ensure you fall into a deep sleep when you finally tumble into bed. Certain exercises will be better than others for encouraging a decent night’s sleep.
Some time spent doing yoga or running is probably a good idea over lifting weights at the gym. Something that properly utilises all of your muscles over a select few.
There are a variety of other ways you can ensure a good night’s sleep – some work for some people, others work better for other people. It sometimes is a matter of trial and error but once you know what works for you, you will hopefully have no trouble sleeping in the future. What tips do you have for a good night’s sleep?
Great tips! I suffer with insomnia occasionally and the tip I suggest is get off screens 2-3 hours before bedtime. Biggest thing that helps me
In do need to reduce the amount of food and drink I have later at night. When we bought pillows it made such a difference to our sleep x
These sound fab , although I feel for a good night sleep I’d have to kick the snoring hubby out and stick the children in the shed so don’t come into me every 5 minutes ha
This has been very useful
Some really great advice here, I try and restrict my caffeine intake in the evenings and try and get out for a run at least once or twice a week.
Insomnia is exhausting. Certainly worth investing in god qualty products for good quality sleep. Excercise helps, too.