This week an old friend of mine from back home in Portsmouth was on Facebook bemoaning the fact that she was having yet another night of no sleep. She could think of no specific reason for this so I contacted her and emailed over some tips that have worked for people I know in the past.
This made me think that this could be a good topic for a short blog, so here are my top ten tips for a restful night’s sleep:
- Stop any work or “taxing” stuff at least an hour before bed
- In the last hour before bed relax by having a bath, watching TV, reading a book/magazine or whatever it is that chills you out
- In bed, read a book or magazine that is quite light and allow your mind to slowly wander off into sleep
- Lavender Oil: Put it in your “pre-bed” bath, sprinkle it on your pillow and burn it in a candle holder in your room for an hour before bed
- Dont use a laptop an hour before bed
- Dont have any electronic equipment in your bed room, switched off or otherwise
- Make your bedroom a really lovely, quiet, spacious room; throw out any stuff that doesn’t belong in a bedroom. Give it a spring clean!
- Dont have anything in your bedroom that isnt related to being relaxed and calm ie no business stuff like bank statements or bills etc just nice books magazines, flowers, photos of loved ones etc
- Try a relaxation/meditation CD and play them in bed, you can use headphones so as not to disturb anybody
- Drink Camomile tea or equivalent before bed, and obviously no stimulants like coffee, tea or alcohol
Some of these will be familiar to a lot of you, but maybe there are one or two points here that you hadn’t thought of.
So, do let me know if you have any good ideas that have worked for you, after all we all need a good night’s sleep! Get in touch in the comments box below or email info@bodylinestudios.co.uk
Some great tips here Roy. I would add keep a notebook by the bed so that you can dump any thoughts that might be keeping you awake.
Hi Glenda,
Yes, that is a good one. Thanks for that.
Roy
If I cannot sleep I have a mantra that I repeat to myself – a bit like counting sheep – however more soothing. I say in my head “I am loved and I am loving” and it works every time. Have a great night snoooooooze, sleep …..
Nice one Fran, If I am struggling to get to sleep I go through my favourite boxing bouts from yesteryear and list my top ten, before I get to 10 I have normally dropped off! Different strokes for different folks!
This is going to read like an advert but it’s not meant to, promise. I was an insomniac all my life til about 3 years ago when I came across some headphones that you can wear in bed. I play talking books to myself – PG Wodehouse mainly – and I fall asleep within about 15 minutes max. It used to take me about 2 hours. The headphones are called pajamas for your ears and I utterly adore them. I have three pairs just in case because I literally cannot do without them.
Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. My wife listens to relaxation CDs on an old portable CD player so I might check out your headphones for her!