We all have moments of lying wide awake staring into the dark trying to force our minds to switch off so we can finally get some much needed sleep.
If your head feels bombarded with all of your work, relationship and finance worries, it might be time to revaluate your relationship with sleep and make it work for you.
Sleep deprivation and tiredness can have a major effect on many aspects of your life, but there are dietary and mindful things you can do every day to make going to bed a blissful experience.
Don’t Force It
If it’s you usual bedtime but you’re not tired, there’s no point wasting time trying to get yourself to sleep. Training yourself for bed starts with going to sleep when you feel shattered and waking up on time. Eventually your body clock will start to shift and you’ll feel sleepy closer to the goal bedtime. Tip: stop relying on sleeping tablets as eventually their effect will wear off and you’ll be back at square one.
Conditions Are Everything
Some say your room should be as dark and cold as a cave. Of course, everybody is different but according to professionals, you should aim to have the temperature in your room set to 18-21°C. Living in sunny Dubai, blackout blinds are a must.
Switch Up Your Eating Habits
We all have demanding jobs, but quitting caffeine after 4pm can help you doze off in the night. Also avoid cheese (tough on your stomach) and spicy food (raises body temperature) and instead snack on a banana and nuts that are said to induce sleep hormones. If you have a sweet tooth, grab a spoon of honey instead of chocolate.
Workout In The Morning
Doing an intense cardio workout few hours before bed might not be such a good idea. Your energy levels peak and the rush of adrenaline can make it harder to switch off.
Turn Off The Blue Screen
It can be tricky for us to put down electronic devices, but letting your mind slow down an hour or two before bed could do wonders for your sleep. If you must have a final check of email before lights out, make sure to switch the blue screen to night mode.
