How to get a good night’s sleep

I don’t normally have problems sleeping, but every now and again, my mind won’t stop and getting to sleep is impossible. The next day I will normally be unproductive, crabby and a lesser version of my best self.

When this does happen, I know I need to take action to stop it from happening night after night as then, even the thought of not being able to sleep will keep me awake.

Here are my top tips for getting to sleep.

Cut back on caffeine

I try not to drink caffeine past 3pm as I know it will play a part in keeping me awake. I know many people say that it doesn’t affect them, but it really does affect me - I could be physically and mentally tired and a cup of tea would keep me wide awake into the early hours of the morning. Instead, I try to drink a naturally uncaffeinated tea like chamomile or mint which is relaxing and calming. You can get night time blends which contain ingredients to help your body prepare itself for sleeping.

This Pukka Night Time is delicate and fragrant and makes you feel like you’ve been wrapped in a cashmere blanket.

Read, not scroll

It is all too tempting to have a last quick look at Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin’ or read the news when in bed, but it really doesn’t do me any favours. I’ll start to get ideas about blog posts, click on links of things to buy and generally get my mind going a hundred miles a minute. Reading a book on the other hand, tends to be much less interactive - just don’t pick a novel that you won’t be able to put down. Too many times I have said to myself ‘just one more page’ and ended up finishing the book and feeling really pleased with myself until I notice it is 3am…

Write a list

If your mind is busy when the lights go out, then before you go to bed write a list of all the things you are thinking about. Invariably, in our busy lives, it will be things you need to do. Take pen to paper and write down what you need to do with deadlines and you will feel more organised and less panicked.

Relaxing scents

I LOVE it when my home smells nice, and going to bed is no exception. It has been proven that smells can affect your mind and body, and we all know that lavender is supposed to help you sleep. In fact, research has shown that ‘aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders‘. I love this Neom Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood candle and like to burn it in my bedroom for a couple of hours before I want to go to sleep. Neom is a gorgeous brand; they use only natural ingredients and their scents are made to specific moods - to lift you, to energise, to help you sleep etc.

Another scent-y product I like is This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. People across the world swear by this product. Give your pillow a quick spray before bed time and you’ll be enveloped in a peppery, lavender-y smell to help rock you to sleep.

Get into a routine

Having a routine before going to bed might sound like something you’d do to a small child but it works for adults as well. It might consist of having a bath or a shower, doing your skin care regime etc. Getting your mind to realise that it is sleep time is the trick here. Again, there are products out there that are designed to help you relax such as this Lazy Cow Bath and Body Oil from Cowshed. It helps you calm your mind and body after a busy day, and smells gorgeous.

Exercise

Not as easy to achieve as the above, but probably makes the biggest difference to me. If I am exercising regularly (about 3 times a week) then I find I fall asleep much quicker and sleep better than if I don’t. Working out doesn’t come naturally to me, but I used to walk a good hour to and from work and do yoga and that kept my fitness levels up. However, now I have to drive to work I can find myself going from day to day without really doing anything physically exerting so I have really push myself to the gym or a class, and I am always grateful when I do.

Clean, comfy bedding

I have always loved a good comfy bed with nice sheets, but after staying in the Sofitel in Munich (the comfiest beds ever), my standards went up a notch or two and I came home and revamped our sleeping arrangements. Firstly, if you share your bed with someone (or fluffy friends) buy the biggest bed your space and budget will allow. Having enough personal sleep room makes such a massive difference for me. The next step is to ensure you have a great mattress, and I swear by a really high quality topper for that floating-on-a-cloud feeling. Next, invest in good pillows and duvets to suit your preferences - it is cruelty free down all the way for me, and we have different weights for the different seasons. Good sheets are the icing on the cake and I like a brushed cotton in winter, and a crisp percale in summer. Finally, freshly washed bedding for me is heaven. Getting into a fresh smelling bed is one of my favourite things in the world and a sure way to send me into a deep sleep.

ps. If you are a parent, I know this is probably completely pointless. You probably don’t need help getting to sleep, just a maybe a time capsule bed so you can double the number of hours of sleep you are able to get. I’ll work on inventing one and let you know when I do!

Do you have any tips to get a good night’s sleep?