Features Press Sample
Those who follow me on social media may already know that I am currently going through some stressful health issues, which have definitely had a real impact on my sleep. To be honest with you, I had barely been sleeping at all for over a week and things needed to change. These are the actions I have been taking to try and make sure I prioritise sleep this winter, and give my body the chance it needs to get in the best possible health.
A New Mattress
One of the things I found hard about our old mattress was that it had begun to feel quite uncomfortable, losing its firmness over the years, and generally making me feel like I was the princess and the pea each morning, regardless of whether I had actually managed to sleep through or not. We have had our new Simba Mattresses mattress for a couple of weeks now and I am already noticing a positive difference. Gone is the morning neck pain, and Ed is beyond impressed with the quality – he has been recommending the mattress to anyone who will listen. I must admit, it is nice to feel supported by my bed when I finally manage to switch off at night!
Drinking Herbal Tea
I have never been a hot drink person – I don’t drink coffee and have never really been one for a ‘normal’ cup of tea as I don’t really like milk. I have become a total convert to herbal tea now though, and especially enjoy a ‘sleepy’ tea before bed. I find it helps me to wind down, and even having it as a routine helps my body and mind to know it is nearly time to switch off, whether the tea itself is helping or not. I would definitely recommend – you can pick them up in the supermarkets, or on Amazon.
Reading Before Bed
As tempting as it is to watch the latest episode of Stranger Things, or to binge on Christmas films at this time of year, I have been making a conscious effort to really try and avoid watching too much tv just before I head off to sleep, instead focusing on reading a few chapters of my latest book club book. I am currently obsessed with One Day at Christmas, which is a super cute rom-com.
Avoiding Screens During the Night
The worst habit I have when I am already struggling to sleep is picking up my phone and scrolling, even if I have woken up at 3am and need desperately to try and sleep again. Going on my phone fully wakes me up, so I have started being stricter with when I put it down and keep it down for the night. I think it is having a positive effect, so hopefully I can keep it up!
Refusing the Urge to Nap
I also tend to fall into the nap trap when I am struggling with my sleep. I will come in from work and, if I don’t have an event in the evening, I will then head for a power nap. However, as much as this feels amazing short term, I know that it will cause issues along the line when I attempt to sleep through the night. So, instead, I have been allowing myself a little chill time, and then try to bring my bedtime earlier a little if I have struggled to sleep the night before.
Have you found any amazing sleep tips? I would love to hear them!
This post features a press sample, however all words are my own.
