Sleep is extremely precious, imperative for health as well as for a relaxed and stress free life. It ought to leave us feeling refreshed, energetic and alert, and yet many of us wake up still feeling knackered!

Earlier this year, a report for the Mental Health Foundation found that a third of us experience sleep disorders sush as insomnia, and it doesn’t just leave us grumpy, it can have a major impact on our health and well being and day to day lives.

So, top tips for a great nights kip…

Realise that sleep is an important part of the recovery/preparation process if you have been exercising or just have a demanding workload

Optimise your sleeping environment….keep your bedroom at a cool temperature, don’t go to bed to watch TV, or work on your laptop, go to bed to read, and sleep! Also make sure you have a good set of blackout blinds for when summer comes around again

Cut down on caffeine… avoid from mid afternoon onwards (this one caused me to take a sharp intake of breathe I will admit)

The key to any sleep plan is a good routine so try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, find a routine that works for you and stick to it.

Make sure that you have a great mattress and pillows, when was the last time you bought new pillows or turned your mattress?

So there you have it, a comprehensive guide on small ideas for sleep that could make a big difference.

Be Well and Sleep Well.

Elizabeth