Sleep Easy
25th April 2018
25th April 2018
With the UK’s recent erratic weather patterns, the change in the seasons and everyday stresses, some of us are finding it hard to get a good night’s rest.
But, with help from The Sleep Council and And So To Bed in The Pantiles, you can sleep easy! Our new blog is filled with snooze-inducing ideas to ensure plenty of quality shut eye.
According to the Good Night Guide from The Sleep Council, keeping the bedroom as dark as possible is important because it encourages production of melatonin – a hormone that helps to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and promotes restful sleep.
It is produced in the evening to help us sleep and even low amounts of ambient light (such as that given off by radio alarm clocks, mobile phones and laptops) will suppress production of melatonin.
“People should, however, avoid buying melatonin supplements from the internet” says health writer Yinka Thomas, author of the new guide which is based on her book, ‘Get a Good Night’s Sleep – 7 Practical Steps’. “Taking supplements, which are only available on prescription in the UK, may disrupt the body’s natural melatonin production and potentially suppress its ability to produce this important hormone, ultimately making sleep problems worse.”
Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council says: “Getting a good night’s sleep can be dependent on a whole range of factors – from diet and exercise to the importance of a good bed to a good night’s sleep.”
Apart from worries, another enemy of sleep that stems from 21st Century lifestyles is non-stop, ever present technology. From smart phones to laptops, TVs, radios and games consoles, the amount of gadgetry making its way into British bedrooms has had a significant effect on our sleeping habits.
Said Yinka: “From the moment we wake up and check our smart phones life is non-stop. It can be difficult to switch off and wind down, so it’s small wonder that many of us have trouble sleeping.”
So, while bedrooms are best kept clutter-free, the bed itself is of critical importance to quality sleep.
The foundation of good sleep is a comfortable bed and the right mattress can make the difference between a restorative night’s sleep and poor-quality sleep that results in tiredness and fatigue.
If you sleep better in a hotel or other bed away from home or are waking up with aches and pains which wear off as the day progresses, it may be time to change your bed.
Research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour’s sleep – yet the deterioration may be so gradual and invisible that many people fail to make the connection between an uncomfortable bed and poor sleep.
The Sleep Council advises thinking about replacing your bed after about seven years.
At And So To Bed in The Pantiles, their sleep consultants make sure your mattress is 100% correctly designed for your personal body shape and size.
This includes the option of a mattress variation on each side of the bed, personalising the comfort for you and your sleeping partner. Book a consultation today to discuss your sleep easy options.
You can download a copy of the Good-Night Guide for free from sleepcouncil.org.uk. To find out more about And So To Bed and their mattress options, head in-store to the branch in The Pantiles.