Our top 5 tips for a blissful night’s sleep

Sleep is one of life’s greatest pleasures and it can do wonders for our mental health. Yet, some of us can find it difficult to drift off into the land of nod.

Instead of counting sheep until the early hours, take a look at our top 5 tips to help you get a great night's sleep.

1. Set your body clock. Sleep experts recommend going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. This helps set your body’s internal clock and regulates the quality of your sleep. Select a bedtime when your body naturally begins to feel tired, so that you don’t toss and turn. If you’re getting enough sleep, you should be able to wake up naturally without an alarm. Unfortunately, this does mean you should skip the weekend lie-in! 

Sleep Fact: Did you know 12% of people dream in black and white.

 2. Find the perfect fragrance.  Filling your bedroom with relaxing and calming scents can be the perfect sleep remedy. Lavender has supernatural calming powers and is well-known for luring people into a deep slumber. Try a lavender scented pillow spray or room diffuser to fill your bedroom with this tranquil fragrance. An alternative to lavender is the sweet smell of rose. Research suggests that rose is great for relieving stress and feelings of anxiety. A warming bath at the end of the day filled with a rose-scented bubble bath or a few drops of essential oil is sure to help send you into a deep slumber.  

Sleep Fact: A giraffe sleeps for less than 2 hours a day, while a cat can sleep for up to 16.

3. Keep the noise to a minimum.  If you can’t avoid noise from your neighbours, traffic, or other people in the household, such as your other half snoring, you might want to invest in a good pair of earplugs to help drown out any background noise. Or you could try masking unwanted noises with an electric fan, some people also find the gentle breeze to be a soothing influence.

Sleep Fact: On average, we spend about 2 hours per night dreaming.

4. Keep your room nice and cool. A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can interfere with the quality of your sleep. Make sure you choose a breathable mattress to help the airflow as you sleep. It’s also a good idea to have different tog duvets for the summer and winter months, to help regulate your body temperature. The Sleep Foundation suggest that 18.3 degrees Celsius is the ideal bedroom temperature. Choosing a natural wool fibre mattress can also help regulate your body temperature, helping to keep you warm in summer and cool in winter. A sprung mattress provides excellent airflow for a cooler night’s sleep unlike many foam mattresses which don’t dissipate the heat effectively. 

Sleep Fact: The melody to ‘Yesterday’ came to Paul McCartney in a dream.

 5. Make sure your mattress is just right. We spend a third of our lives in bed, therefore it is important to understand what type of mattress is right for your body type. One of the main areas to consider is whether to get a soft or a firm mattress, both have their own unique qualities. Soft mattresses are best for side sleepers or lighter individuals, as a firmer mattress may not compress enough to achieve maximum comfort. For back sleepers or heavier individuals, a firmer mattress will generally be more suitable. Making sure your mattress offers you enough support is also key.

The best way to find out if a mattress is right for you is to try it. That’s why at Herdysleep we offer a 100 night sleep trial.