If you have googled ‘how to go to sleep’ and arrived here, then I know you must be struggling or be close to someone who is struggling with their sleep. Not being able to drop off to sleep is just horrible, isn’t it? I can totally empathise.
It has happened to me on a number of occasions in the past. I am a writer and I work on lots of different projects and my head is often chock full of thought and words and ideas until late in the evening. Switching off and relaxing is not always easy for me.
Knowing how to go to sleep is something I have really had to focus on and I have some great tips to share with you today which I hope will really help you too.
World Sleep day & How to Go to Sleep
World Sleep Day takes place on march 18. It take s place annually and it is both a celebration of sleep and a call to action on for people to tackle all issues they have in relation to sleep. Hence this is a great time to tackle the pressing issue of how to go to sleep and what helps.
The Problems with a lack of Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is central to our health rather than just being a ‘nice thing’ to experience.
We all know lack of sleep makes us bad tempered and can cause low mood, loss of energy and focus but actually lack of good sleep on a regular basis is a actually a lot more serious than that. The NHS report that lack of good, regular sleep can lead to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. In fact, it can be a killer.
One or two nights of poor sleep when we are ill or stressed just cause us to feel a bit rubbish, but over time the impact on us can increase in severity. Not least because with concentration being affected the risk of accidents and injury increase.
During one particularly prolonged period of not sleeping I actually fell asleep at my desk and banged my head. It scared me and I didn’t drive again until I had sorted out my sleeping issues, it was way too dangerous.
I know this all sounds very gloomy so let’s take a look now at the benefits of good sleep because there are many and they are fabulous!
The benefits of good sleep
Scientists tell us that with a good night sleep you reap many benefits including the following ….
- You are more likely to wake up all bright eyed and bushy tailed with energy for the day
- It can help you maintain a healthy weight because you won’t be snacking simply to give yourself more energy
- You won’t annoy the person lying next to you with your tossing and turning so your relationship will be positively affected
- Good sleep can increase your sex drive and increase fertility!
- It can boost immunity and protect you from diabetes and heart disease and even the common cold!
I think it is pretty obvious the benefits of a good night’s sleep are physical, emotional and mental and so it is certainly something we should priorities for optimum health and well being
So, what helps when figuring how to go to sleep?
We are all individual and I know from talking my own sleep issues over with friends that the things that helped me learn go to go to sleep and stay asleep were often different to what worked for them. Trial and error and figuring out what works for you is important when it comes to knowing how to go to sleep easily
These are the changes I made that worked for me – and I truly hope they help you figure out how to go to sleep too or at least gives you something to try.
My top 7 tips on how to go to sleep (and stay asleep)
- Having a regular bedtime – and a regular wake up time. I find this helps me enormously. I now wake up at 6 am no matter what time I go to bed, so it is important I hit the hay by 10 as often as possible to get my much needed 8 hours in. I know not everyone needs this long but I most certainly do.
- Having a regular sleep routine – I like a bath and a book before bed, it helps me feel really sleepy and helps pull my busy mind away from its creative thoughts and worries.
- Before I head to bed, I always tidy up and check the doors too. A calm, secure environment always allows me to relax more fully into sleep,
- I always write a to do list for the next day before I go to bed too in another attempt to relax my busy brain and empty it of its persistent thoughts.
- Clean air in the bedroom helps it feel fresh and refreshing so I always leave a window open slightly during the day. I am convinced this helps me nod off.
- Fresh sheets and Pjs’ every few days help me feel comfortable and cosy and definitely make going to bed that bit more lovely
- A great pillow, lovely bedding and an awesome mattress are a must for me if I am going to sleep well. These can make a huge difference to how easily I drop off to sleep and how well I stay asleep. I’m going to tell you a little bit more about some great products that can really help in the next section.
How to go to sleep with the perfect pillow
I was recently sent a TEMPUR® pillow to review and oh my goodness it has been a complete game changer for me. You have to check this pillow out. TEMPUR® pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you can absolutely find one that is right for you. They are a bit special! I have the classic comfort pillow in a rectangle shape.
I love the origins of this brand ….
TEMPUR® actually make the only mattress and pillow recognized by NASA for improving quality of life- how cool is that endorsement!
The TEMPUR® material inside each mattress and pillow is developed from NASA technology originating in the 1960’s when scientists invented a new material to protect pilot on test flights. This was later called memory foam. It was found to have awesome pressure relieving properties and the TEMPUR® founders used it to make their unique TEMPUR® material which became the world’s first memory foam pillows and mattresses.
Now I must tell you I have slept on other memory foam pillows but they have never been this good!
‘The moment you lie down feels like pure magic as the cells instantly respond to your body’s shape, weight and warmth, precisely adapting and aligning to every inch of you.’
It is completely blissful.
In fact TEMPUR® are so absolutely certain their pillows will give you the best night’s sleep of your life, that you can try them for 30 nights before deciding they are right for you. It also comes with a 3-year guarantee. The soft fabric cover is removable and can be washed at 60°C.
I have to say it is truly the best pillow I have ever slept on. I seem to sink into it whilst also feeling totally supported by it. It’s hard to explain but it’s good and I feel deeply relaxed as I lay my head on it.
It can also help to reduce your tossing and turning as it absorbs motion from your partner, so you are less likely to disturb one another. Clever eh!
The science is a bit complicated, but the facts are simple. It helps you get to sleep and then helps you sleep better and as we have already explored there are huge plus points to a good night’s sleep! Do take a closer look at this pillow. I have been telling everyone about mine! What a fab sleep aid it is.
But what about your mattress? Well, you are going to need …
A great mattress
If you have ever tried to sleep on a lumpy and bumpy or a hard and uncomfortable mattress you will know it makes it nearly impossible to have a good night’s sleep.
Mattress material matters and once you have tried out the TEMPUR® material in a pillow I am pretty sure, like me, a TEMPUR® mattress will be on your good night’s sleep wish list too. These mattresses are available in 3 different depths and sizes and respond to your body temperature, weight, and shape. They come with a 10-year guarantee too and like the pillows have rave reviews.
I would say with the right mattress and pillow and with some good routines in place that work for you, you are going to totally figure out how to go to sleep and get a great night’s rest in the process.
Just give a little bit of focus to getting everything in place and you will reap the benefits.
This post is in conjunction with TEMPUR® but all thoughts are my own.
