“Only 8% of people wake up feeling refreshed and 60% admit to not being happy with the amount of sleep they get.” (Chris Worsfold)

Why is sleep important?

The World Health Organisation recommends adults should have 7-8 hours per night allowing us to go through 5-6 cycles of deeper and lighter sleep providing optimal recovery.

Good regular sleep makes you feel happier as it regulates your mood by decreasing levels of our stress hormone - cortisol. Sleep deprivation makes you more sensitive to pain therefore good regular sleep can help in reducing pain symptoms.

Benefits

• Your brain recharges - improving our memory as we know sleep deprivation results in accidents due to drowsiness and poor concentration.
• Your cells repair themselves at a higher rate - specifically myelin cells which protect our nerves.
• Your body releases important hormones - particularly leptin which supresses appetite helping maintain proper body weight. This is why cravings for high-calorie and fatty foods surge by 45% when your sleep deprived (sleep.org).
• Sleep maintains your immune system, people who sleep less than 7 hours a night are 3x more likely to develop a cold.
• During sleep your body’s temperature reduces by 1 degree this is why room temperature is important and also why a bath prior to sleep helps as it dilates our circulatory system allowing heat loss.

Top tips

• Have a designated place to sleep
• Optimise your sleeping environment with a suggested temperature of around 18 degrees and that the room is quiet and dark (consider earplugs / eye masks)
• Establish a routine with a regular set-time for sleep as this helps to develop a regular sleep wake cycle and rhythm - programming your body to sleep better
• Reduce your daily intake of stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine (tea & coffee) prior to sleep and also from noon onwards - these prevent a deep sleep
• Avoid over-hydrating as this can interrupt sleep
• Reduce or try to give up smoking - as this disrupts sleep
• High levels of protein can promote sleep, however high levels of fat can reduce sleep. If consuming carbohydrates allow time for digestion, more than 1 hour prior to sleep
• Restrict stimulating activities such as ‘screen time’ exposure (phones, laptops, T.V’s) and dim room lights prior to sleep - have some ‘off-line time’ 2 hours prior to bed
• Engage in relaxing activities prior to sleep - yoga, 7/11 breathing, meditation
• Engage in regular daily exercises however try to avoid strenuous exercise 3 hours prior to sleep
• If you find you are waking, avoid stimulating activities as this only rewards the brain for waking you. If you are waking due to worrying - try writing a list.