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Ever since reading Arianna Huffington's 'Thrive' I've been conscious of my sleep habits and what I can do to improve them.
Above anything, I am a girl that needs sleep. I could sleep for 12 hours if I needed too (and this has been known to happen!) I always get a little irritated when people say sleeping your life away is bad- it's not. Studies show that people who have a lack of sleep are prone to get ill, perform not at their best, and general lack of snooze time is detrimental in all areas of a person's life.
Huffington herself collapsed from a lack of sleep, and it was this moment that told her she needed to change her habits. She increased her sleep to at least 8 hours a night (whereas I find 9 helps me perform better.) She also offered up the following top tips for getting some great shut-eye:
Charge your devices away from your bed- this way you will be less tempted to check them if you wake up during the night.
No smart devices before bedtime- sure reading a book on a Kindle or an iPad is great, but does it beat the real thing? The light that illuminates the screens on our smart devices stimulates the brain, thinking that it is work time. Turn them off (or purchase glasses that cut out the light,) will definitely help you sleep better.
Use calming sprays- choose a delicate and relaxing scent like lavender to help you sleep better. I sprinkle a few drops of lavender oil on a tissue and place it under my pillow- it works a treat!
Be dark- make sure your blinds or curtains completely submerge the room into darkness. Also use an eye mask to help block out any other unwelcome light sources (blinking televisions I'm looking at you.)
Try meditation- this will really help you relax. When you wake up, Huffington suggests taking just one minute to breathe and ease yourself into the day.
No sound- what really works for me is wearing ear plugs. Get bright coloured ones so you can find them if they fall out!
What helps you sleep? Let me know in the comments!
