Attaining Restful, Restorative Sleep

Many of us have faced a new reality over the last few months, working a lot more from home. Whilst this has allowed many of us to potentially spend more time in bed (no commuting and getting up early), other factors have compounded blocks to getting the sleep we need. First there is worry; worry over our futures and what the so-called “new normal” will entail, and whether this new normal has taken account of us and our lives. Secondly, the lure of films, media and screens tempt us from turning in early, and the blue light from the screens shutting down our ability to switch off.?

Why we need to sleep: *Immune Function *Stress Reduction *Healthy Heart Health *Inflammation *Weight Loss (!) *Memory and Cognitive Function *Repair

3 + 3 Top Tips for Better Sleep

1. Keep your levels of magnesium topped up: One of the most common UK deficiencies, magnesium is a key mineral, including optimising bone, nerve and energy creation in??the?body. It serves as a relaxant. Try taking 400 mg of magnesium 30 minutes before bed (I like the brand Magnesium 365 – I have nothing to do with the company!) Try taking a warm bath before bed with Epsom salts (magnesium is absorbed effectively through the skin).
2. Caffeine: It’s super obvious but really limit your coffee (and tea) intake – caffeine has a half -life of at least 8 hours, and the addictive dose of caffeine is surprisingly low. One strong commercial coffee is likely to be way over the dose. Even if you think you are immune to the effects of caffeine, your brainwaves would beg to differ!
3. Eat Real Food – Balance Blood Sugar: Avoid foods that are processed, and are: Sweet, fluffy (think white bread, or pop- corn) and white (processed). Balancing a key hormone, insulin means that stress hormones are likely to be more effectively under-control, and for some people a stable blood sugar can mean waking in the night is a thing of the past!
4. Sleep loves a routine: Disturbed routines are one of the main reasons we’ve seen a worldwide spike in sleeping problems in recent months, along with anxiety. Whilst a lack of commute means we potentially have more time to sleep we’re more likely to alter our daily routine. Whether staying up later, perhaps binging on a box set, or sleeping in later if we don’t have a Zoom call. The thing is sleep loves a routine. Try to come up with a routine to suit your new ‘normal’. Maintaining the same sleep and wake times every day can really help with improving sleep.
5. Measure your alcohol intake: It’s been well documented that alcohol sales have risen significantly during lockdown. It’s perhaps no surprise. Even in better times many people reach for a ‘nightcap’ to help them sleep. Whilst alcohol can help us fall asleep faster the quality of sleep after alcohol tends to be less restful and less recuperative. We won’t tell you to not have a drink, but just be mindful when you need to be happy, alert or productive the next day. The body processes 1 unit of alcohol an hour.?So try to go to bed ‘alcohol free’.
6. Ditch the sleep tracker (perhaps): New gadgets encourage us to track just about every aspect of our health and fitness. Personally, I find some of it very useful. I quite often take a look at my daily step count to see how I’ve faired over a week or month. However, when it comes to sleep, they can create more problems than they solve. If you are one of the people that looks at what percentage of your sleep is spent in each stage – especially deep sleep – turn it off! There is a new phenomenon called ‘orthosomnia’ where we actually create anxiety about our sleep through endless tracking and attempts to?optimise it. If you feel rested and fully functioning you are probably sleeping well enough. Their accuracy is also open to question – especially on details of different sleep stages.

Bonus: Try QI Gong?

I am not from the Qi Gong Education Council, I promise! Qi Gong is great for stress reduction, and creating boundaries – deceptive

in its understated effort, but a massive bang for the buck in benefit. In effect Qi Gong is a standing meditation (without getting bored – I last 2 seconds on focussing with seated meditation).

Try Funky Light Blocking Glasses

Try either TrueDark or Swanwick (I have the Swanwicks and again I am nothing to do with the company). I also have an amazing sleep mask from Swanwick – expensive, but worth every penny.

For more wellness tips, not only on sleep but eveything wellness and self-improvement get in contact now to book a consultation with Kate Cook.