It’s hard to believe that the beautiful city of York has the most sleep deprived, however according to research by British Beds Direct, people in York searched the internet the most with queries such as “why can’t I sleep?” and “what to do when you can’t sleep”. And, it would seem, they are not the only ones up at night, those in Newcastle and Swansea aren’t far behind. Even more surprising is that London doesn’t even feature in the list, does this mean that all Londoners sleep soundly or that they are just too tired to even search?
We all know that there are times in our lives that we are not going to sleep so well, but what keeps us from the big snooze?
- Your age – yes, it could be that simple. According to Harvard Health, it could just be you’re your sleep/wake cycle (the circadian rhythm) has shifted meaning that you get tired earlier in the evening but are wide awake earlier in the morning.
- Worrying, close your eyes and all the worries that you have come flooding into your mind. It could be about the kids, money, parents, did you close the window? You name it, everything and anything becomes bigger and more important the minute you close your eyes.
- Your busy lifestyle. Disrupted sleep could be the cause of:
- Eating too much near to the time you are going to bed can promote heartburn which makes it hard to fall asleep.
- Drinking alcohol within four hours of going to sleep can also interrupt sleep later on in the night. A nightcap may help you get to sleep but it doesn’t keep you asleep.
- The medication that you are on may disturb your sleep.
- Not having enough fresh air and exercise means that you are tired but the body isn’t tired enough to help you sleep through the night.
Here are our 5 top tips to get a better night’s sleep.
- Limit your screen time before bed, it’s no secret that laptops, the TV and mobile phones emit a blue light, which prevents the brain from releasing melatonin which can stop you getting a good night sleep.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, heavy meals and nicotine at night, leave at least 4 hours free before you hit the sack.
- Get more physical exercise into your day, it may not be easy to fit in but even just spending time outdoors just going for a walk helps. However, avoid doing exercise late at night, it may have the opposite effect.
- Clear out your bedroom. Too much clutter in the bedroom doesn’t make for a relaxing atmosphere. Consider decorating in a darker warmer shade it will make it more of a cocoon. Make your bedroom a sanctuary which is kid free and reflects you.
- Create a bedtime routine, just like a baby needs the bath, bottle, bed routine, an adult needs a routine, run a bath, massage in the beautiful 1000mg Relaxing Body Oil with Lavender & Eucalyptus will help you relax. Then pop into bed with a book or magazine.
Close your eyes, and off you go!
