Life is busy, that’s a given, but why is it that on our quest to figure out the perfect life equation, the first thing we’re willing to subtract is sleep? While striking a balance between work, workouts and social commitments can be tough at times, sleep should be a constant priority. While our bodies are amazing and capable of incredible things, we have to remember that we’re only human and contrary to what we might think, we can’t run on empty, so it’s imperative we give our bodies the rest and repair they need every single night. If you’re good to your body, your body will be good to you… It really is as simple as that. Think about it for a minute – you wouldn’t leave your car engine running all night and still expect it to start in the morning, so why should we treat our bodies any differently?
A recent study conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation found that one of the reasons so many of us are struggling to get through the day is because more and more us are engaging in bedtime procrastination. Even if you’re technically in bed, so often sleep is the last thing on our minds, and we find ourselves distracted by a myriad of other factors… “Just one more episode”, “I wonder how many likes my photo has on instagram now”, or “this is my last email”. Come on, fess up… we all do it, but if you want to really live out your fullest potential, it’s time to get serious about sleep.
Here are some simple ways to get you sleeping like a baby:
Create a sanctuary
Make your bedroom as comfy and cosy as you can so it’s a place you actually want to spend time in. Invest in a soft and snuggly set of sheets (and wash them regularly to rid dust mites), light some soothing aromatherapy candles to create calm energy (try our dreamer candle from the MNB home collection) and in the few hours leading up to lights out, keep light soft and dim.
Switch off
Your bedroom is for sleeping and snuggling only! Don’t treat it like an office, lounge room or games room – so do yourself a favour and ditch the tech gadgets altogether. While sleeping next to your iPhone might lull you into a sense of security, it should actually doing the complete opposite. Mobiles and laptops emit electromagnetic radiation, which can disrupt and even delay the quality of our sleep.
Play it cool
Whilst a piping hot shower might seem like a fail proof way to wind down, warming the body will actually keep it awake. When your temperature cools down, our metabolic activity slows down too, which makes everything we do just a little bit harder and slower… bed time! Try and keep your room at a neutral temperature and avoid hot showers or baths in the 2 hours leading up to your slumber.
When in doubt, nap it out
If you’re feeling a little drained, contrary to what some will tell you, an afternoon nap is A-Okay, just so long as you keep your snooze sesh between 15-30 minutes… any longer and you’ll induce that horrible groggy feeling that’s super hard to shake. The ideal time to recharge your batteries is between 1-2, so if you feel your eyelids getting heavy, don’t fight it… go with it, because chances are your body really needs it.
What’s your favourite fail-proof way to wind down for bed?