I have definitely
got a love hate relationship with bedtime, and with sleep in general.
I am always tired, but very much struggle to go to sleep and
stay asleep! So much so that to get through the day sometimes I simply
have to have an afternoon nap. I don't know the real reason I struggle so
much at night, I guess for the most part anxiety plays a huge role - 4 months
on medication, and i suppose I wished it would have improved things but
although it's helped other factors, sleep not so much!
It's safe to say I've done my research and tried a lot of
things over the time; so I have collated a list of my top tips that I've heard
- they may not all work for me but they might work for someone else, and
anything is worth a shot in desperate times!
Create Routine
This is a pretty obvious tip, and probably the one everyone
comes across when starting a bit of sleep research... Try and stick to going to
bed and getting up at the same time, also wind down just before bed too. Try
switching off the devices & lights, and cutting out the caffeine.
Write down your worries
If like me your mind goes into overdrive, keep a notepad and
pen by the bed - often we end up thinking about stuff that we can't actually do
anything about there and then but then we worry that we will forget if we go to
sleep. So make a quick note of it for the morning.
Food for thought
Eating
healthily improves sleep generally, but some foods are particularly beneficial,
such as milk, chicken, turkey and pumpkin seeds. They contain the chemicals tryptophan
and serotonin, which are vital for the production of melatonin, the hormone
that promotes sleep.
Spicy
food, alcohol and large meals shouldn’t be consumed in the hours
before bedtime. For many, drinking coffee or other caffeinated
drinks in the afternoon can affect sleep.
Happy
Smells
So I am
always intrigued when a product becomes a hot topic of discussion on social
media, and if they don't break the bank then I often give them a try - some to
name a few are Lush's Sleepy cream and Scentsy Jammy Time scent. Both amazing
products in themselves but unfortunately not a winner for me.
