So many of us struggle to get to sleep. But what is the real reason behind this? Is it about the stress that we have in our daily lives, is it our bedroom space, or is it a combination of both? We’ve all got our own unique stresses, but a bedroom is a place purpose-built for sleeping. Is your bedroom actually conducive to a good night’s sleep?
How many electronics do you have in there?
And yes, this includes your phone! While the debate of whether mobile phones are damaging our sleep or not rages on, it’s not healthy to get distracted by emails pinging just before you’re about to drift off. If you really want to have your phone in bed with you, at the very least, install a filter that minimises that bright light. And if you’ve got into the habit of having a television on so you can drift off, embracing the darkness, installing blackout curtains, and removing that TV once and for all can mean that you will sleep with a minimum of distractions. The more things distract you, the less your quality of sleep will be.
How old is your bed?
There are many problems relating to sleep that can be solved by getting a new mattress. Maybe your mattress is too old, and you’ve been holding off buying a new one. But there are so many mattresses out there that can help you sink into a deep slumber. There are Tempur mattresses out there that come highly recommended, but whatever your budget, make sure that it’s worth it. Some people go mattress shopping and realise just how poor their current mattress is. And because there may be uncomfortable springs somewhere, you might be subconsciously moving around a lot in your sleep, which results in a restless night. Make the bed comfortable, and half the battle is won!
Do you prepare for sleep?
You probably don’t. But do you remember when you were a child, and you had a nighttime routine with a bath, a book, and that opportunity to wind down? This is something we should take the opportunity to do. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme, perhaps you can just relax with a nice book that’s not too stimulating, giving you the opportunity to slow down. If you’re constantly rushing around, and doing everything, and you get to bed and expect to fall asleep, you are probably too wired to have a proper night’s slumber. And yes, so many of us are busy, and we can be too tired to have any form of a nighttime routine, but it doesn’t have to be anything lengthy. Perhaps having 10 minutes just to sit in silence, taking a few deep breaths, and letting your body progressively relax can help you to decompose and de-stress.
If we don’t go to bed feeling ready for a good night’s sleep, it’s very likely we’re going to wake up the next day and feel exhausted. As such, we’ve got to push through, and we build up this sleep deficit. Instead, make your bedroom a relaxing space, but also focus on the right routine to get you into a peaceful slumber.