Surprising sleep hacks that actually work
Having trouble sleeping? While the dark winter months can worsen our , there are plenty of simple sleep hacks that actually work.
Bed retailer teamed up with Katherine Hall, a psychologist in sleep from , to help you change your sleeping routine for the better. Take a look at her tips below:
1. Tell yourself a bedtime story — and keep away from your phone
Bedtime stories might be great to help children sleep, but Katherine says that telling yourself a fantasy story can help reduce stress. If you want to give this a go, read a short book before heading into bed.
"Choose a niche like mystery, romance, or sci-fi," she says. "Avoid non-fiction books that shift your brain into problem-solving mode. Fictional stories mimic dreams, helping your mind prepare for sleep. Avoid reading from a Kindle or another digital device. The blue light from these screens will keep you awake."
2. Lower your body temperature
If you're struggling to sleep, it could be down to the temperature of your room. For the perfect night's sleep, try aiming to have a room that is approximately 65 degrees.
"Cool surroundings prevent your body from overheating. Try sleeping in lightweight pajamas or without any clothes. Don't use a heavy blanket or too many blankets," says Katherine. "Research also shows that a cooler temperature provides a deeper Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep, which means a more restorative sleep."
3. Tighten and release your muscles
As well as sticking to a regular sleep routine, another way to sleep soundly is to release your muscles. A technique known as progressive muscle relaxation can help mimic the tension of a massage.
Not sure how to do it? Katherine says: "First, take a deep breath. Second, squeeze a specific muscle group and hold, then lastly, release. Start at your toes and slowly move up your entire body, focusing on a single muscle group at a time including your toes, calves, thighs, stomach, buttocks, arms, shoulders, neck and face."
4. Try to stay awake
Stress and can often keep you from getting the sleep you need. According to Katherine, one of the best things you can do is try to stay awake longer. Have you tried this before?
"It's a technique called paradoxical intention," explains Katherine. "Paradoxical intention encourages you to lie in bed without doing anything to try to fall asleep. You might even want to try to stay awake in bed as long as possible.
"The idea is to tackle the worry that comes with lying in bed awake and to normalize it in your mind. Once you've faced this fear, anxiety reduces and you’ll soon find that you are drifting off to sleep."
5. Keep your feet warm
While many of us struggle to sleep when we're hot, Katherine explains that having warm feet could actually help you fall asleep faster as it can improve blood flow.
"While this may sound like a bad thing, it's actually an important part of the sleep process. Your body's core temperature naturally drops between 1-2 degrees (Fahrenheit) in preparation for sleep," she says. "By warming your feet and lowering your core temperature, you're signalling to your brain that it's time for bed."
Time to reach for the socks...