Send Yourself To Sleep Land

Woman-asleepStressful careers, hectic lifestyles and financial worries mean that many of us are struggling to get a good night’s sleep. Laying in bed wide-awake in the middle of the night is becoming the norm for an increasing number of people as the rat race starts to take its toll. If counting sheep fails to help you drift off, then fear not – The National Sleep Council has marked March as National Bed Month, a campaign that aims to highlight just how important sleep is to maintain good health.

Think of your body as a battery, if it runs for too long then it will soon run out and cease working. Sleep allows the body to recharge, and stay on top form. Here are some simple steps to help you get a good nights sleep.

  • Keep your bedroom as dark as possible – darkness encourages the production of melatonin – a hormone needed to promote restful sleep.
  • Try to avoid using your mobile phone or laptop for one hour before sleeping. The bright unnatural light decreases melatonin production
  • Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD advises ”If you regularly wake in the middle of the night, especially if it’s suddenly and your head is racing, have a small snack of complex carbohydrates, such as an oatcake or small slice of rye bread, about an hour before bed. This will prevent your blood sugar levels from dropping during the night” A good magnesium product to take is BioCare’s Bio-Magnesium vegetable capsules, available from www.nutricentre.com and www.biocare.co.uk (£15.90 for a month’s supply)
  • Try drinking a cup of Pukka’s Night Time Tea before you sleep. The unique blend of oat flower and lavender helps soothe and calm whilst the lime flower helps settle the mind. Pukka Night Time Tea is available from www.pukkaherbs.com (£2.25 for 20 sachets)
  • Think of your bedroom as a place to unwind. This will ensure that you can switch off when you enter the room and leave work worries behind. Never bring work into the bedroom
  • If you are experiencing continued sleep disruption then try Sleep Patch-It. These easy to use reflexology plasters can be placed on the soles of the feet before bed to sooth and calm the body and mind. Sleep Patch-It (£29.99 for 20 patches and £3.99 for 2 patches from Holland & Barrett stores nationwide or from www.naturesdream.co.uk)
  • Miss B

    Belinda Wanis, aka Miss B, is a Belle About Town who likes to bring a little bit of style into every aspect of her life. An experienced journalist with over 20 years in the industry she turned to the web, creating Belle About Town in early 2010, to fill a gap for tech-savvy stylish women who want the best life has to offer at their fingertips. She loves a decadent cocktail bar, a beautifully cut dress, cultural getaways, quality over quantity and is partial to Asian-fusion food. A globetrotter, who has lived in Australia, the UK and Denmark, she enjoys holidaying in the sun and you can often find her on a beach in Thailand or on shopping breaks in Sydney or New York. But her first love is, of course, London!

    View all posts

You May also Like