Smart ways to help get a better night’s sleep
One in three of us suffer from poor sleep, yet the results can be more far-reaching than just tiredness.
Lack of sleep can affect mental health and raise the risk of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Meanwhile, good sleep can boost the immune system, help weight loss and improve mood – and the good news is there are plenty of things you can do to improve sleep.
Going to bed and waking up at regular times every day will help create good sleep habits, as will making sure your weekend sleep schedule differs from weekdays by no more than an hour. The hour before bed should be a relaxing time with bedrooms kept as quiet as possible, and at a comfortable temperature (slightly cool tends to be best).
Avoiding heavy meals and alcohol for a couple of hours before bed can help your body prepare for sleep, while nicotine and caffeine are both stimulants that can hamper a good night’s rest – and it’s worth remembering that the effects of caffeine can last for up to eight hours .
Light plays an important part in good sleep, affecting sleep-wake cycles and ability to relax. Bright artificial light – such as TV or smartphone screens – can be particularly disruptive, so should be avoided before bed.
But innovative sleep company Casper has developed a light that could actually help you on the way to peaceful slumbers. The Casper Glow (£89, buy now) is a warm, gradually dimming light that cues your body for bed and helps deeper sleep, then gradually brightens with soft light in the morning. Customisable with its own app, Glow senses how bright or dark the room is before turning on, and it’s portable, so if you get up in the night there’s no need to turn on a bright light.
The importance of a good mattress can’t be overlooked in the quest for better sleep, and Casper can help here too. Their award-winning, UK-manufactured Casper mattress (prices from £375, buy now) has been engineered in the US to promote anatomic support, while a breathable, open-cell top layer helps regulate temperature. The Casper Essential mattress, (prices from £275, buy now) has now also been introduced to offer the benefits of an expensive mattress without the price tag.
Casper has all your sleep needs covered, with soft yet supportive pillows, pure Supima cotton bedding and unique down and merino wool duvets, as well as bed bases to perfectly complement your mattress.
Find out more about Casper mattresses here, and the Glow Light here
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