Sleep expert advises on how to get a good nights kip
06/02/2012
We all know the importance of getting a good night sleep, but not all of us know the best way of getting it. Slumberdown’s sleep expert Phil Atherton recently revealed to the Daily Mail some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning.
Sleep is comparable to a long journey, in that you should suitably prepare for the trip before embarking. Sleeping takes up a significant chunk of our daily routines, and it is important to get into the right mindset before setting off to the proverbial Beddington. Avoid eating food and drinking caffeine too close to your bedtime, as this can irritate both the mind and the body.
Furthermore, you should establish a routine which will prepare your body for sleep. Get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soothing music, which will help take the mind off the daytime pressures.
Having a suitable mattress and pillows is essential for maintaining the right posture in the night. Sleep is a very personalised activity, and we all adopt different postures and sleeping positions during the night. Finding the mattress that suits you will alleviate uncomfortable positions and back pains that can result from a poor sleeping posture. The best position for sleep is a straightened posture laying on your side, which limits the stress placed on your back.
Memory foam mattresses are designed specifically for optimised personal sleeping positions. The material moulds to the body via the heat that it gives off, allowing for ideal support in sensitive areas.
The bed should be as personalised as possible. If you sleep with someone else, you should opt for at least a queen sized mattress, with an overly large duvet to ensure that both parties get an equal share and are comfortably warm in the night. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest occupant, allowing for space to move around.
The National Sleep Foundation revealed strong links between sleep disorders and health effects at the start of the 21st century, and since then, studies have linked a lack of sleep to diabetes, hypertension, obesity and many more. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
