Sleep Awarness Week

As excited as I am about the arrival of Spring I am now in the midst of struggling to sleep at night. It happens every year, at least twice and seems to be the result of the change of seasons. If you are currently experiencing the same thing rest assure your not the only one - apparently up to 1/3 of Britons are in the same boat. Last week I teamed up with Hilary's  to try out some new methods of promoting a better quality of shut eye.

Let's forget all the lotions and potions that are aimed at helping us drift off into a deep sleep and focus on some truly tried and tested methods. As much as I enjoy the lighter nights they are less than ideal for helping to unwind at night, I need my room to be exceptionally dark to finally drift off so at the weekend I splashed out on black out blinds and have to say they have made the world of difference. Yes my bedroom is pitch black, making it almost assault course like getting into bed once I switch the light off but it has helped ten fold. If you don't fancy black out blinds for whatever reason perhaps a good solution would be an eye mask? Stylish and luxe - I don't fly without one.

While we are on the topic of light, it has been suggested that dim and soft lighting is the best way to promote an evening of rest - think dimer switches and candle light. If like myself you are a huge fan of candles then this will come easy. Personally I tend to go for sleepy scents come night fall such as lavender and chamomile - every little helps. I also recommend once you climb into bed to use a bedside lamp if possible over an intense ceiling light.

Sleep Awarness Week

I can cite where I often go wrong come bed time - my silly phone. I will climb into bed and scroll both Twitter and Instagram for a good few hours before stumbling onto Youtube. The last thing I need before winding down to sleep. Ideally it is said that for the best results you should really switch off all technology two hours before bed. Yes this includes texting and the TV! Why not have a long soak in the bath with a good book instead? If that isn't possible a good solution is to dim the lighting on PC and tablet screens, for further advice I fully recommend checking out Flux.

Believe it or not there are plenty of things you can do throughout the day to help you unwind at night. As little as 20 minutes of exercise throughout the day can really help, the earlier in the day the better. I realise for most of us this is easier said than done, what works best for me is to get off two bus stops before my actual stop and walk the rest of the distance home. Far more appealing than the gym but then again I do hate exercise ha!

Hands up who is a carb-a-holic? Yup me too. A dietician once told me that if I wanted to improve my quality of sleep I should consume my carbs before 4pm to allow my body to break them down properly. In all honesty I do struggle here as I do love me some pasta. Ideally your last meal in the evening should be light, contain protein and not be laden with carbs. Like I said I struggle here but it is good to know that should I be suffering from a lack of sleep that I can heed this advice should needs must. It also goes without saying that the last thing you want to do is drink gallons of fluids before bed, your bladder will not thank you and you will be awoken several times. We've all made that mistake.

My last piece of advice would be to find a routine and stick to it. I like to take the last hour of the day for myself and just chill out. I make time to have a quick shower, a few chapters of whatever book I am reading and my skin care routine. I use the same products most nights so my mind natural associates the scents with winding down and I do find myself looking forward to it at the end of the day. If like myself you run warm, cotton bedding (Egyptian cotton is the best but can be pricey) and pj's are also a life saver.

For more tips and inspiration please visit Hilary's - link.
If you have any further advice, I am all ears.

This is a sponsored post.