Do you often go through the day feeling sluggish or feel sleepy when sitting quietly for a while?
High stress can interfere with your sleep but if sleepiness has become an everyday thing we’ve pinpointed common culprits:
Too much too late
Have you got into that nasty habit of scrolling a device at night? You’re not alone. So many of us ‘just check’ our phone, Facebook or Instagram page instead of turning off from the world.
Reach for a book or magazine instead to help relax and wind down. The only apps you should be using at this time of day are Sleepo, Calm or Headspace which offer a good range of sleep-promoting sounds to help you drift off.
Limit caffeine
A coffee after midday may pick you up for the afternoon, but often this will last well into the evening. Limit your caffeine intake after lunch and opt for herbal or decaffeinated teas at night.
Who are you sleeping with?
Yep, we know this is none of our business – but if your partner snores a lot, thrashes around or has active dreams Bedpost can help you with that! True Comfort beds (exclusive to Bedpost) have a multi-zone pocket spring system where each coil works independently to reduce partner disturbance.Sleepmaker also features individual New Zealand made pocket springs to reduce partner disturbance and roll together.
Creating the right atmosphere
Just as red and yellow stimulate appetite (it’s no coincidence fast food companies choose these colours), bedroom with soft calming hues will help induce a good nights sleep. Soft bedside lighting, breathable natural fibre sheets (choose cotton over polyester) and black-out curtains all help to the mix as well. Visit your nearest Bedpost store for comfortable, quality, affordable Manchester that will look great years from now.
Exercise during the day
Walking the dog, mowing the lawn or vacuuming the house means you can kill two birds with one stone. Exercising too late at night keeps your mind and body on a high from the boost in body temperature and release of endorphins that comes with cardio workouts.
Sleep Apnea
Tiredness can be alarm bells for something more serious such as sleep apnea. So, what exactly is sleep apnea? This is when your airways are being restricted due to relaxed muscles in the neck and is more common as we age. When airways are blocked your brain will tell you “Hey! You’re not breathing – wake up!” so your sleep in constantly interrupted but notifications to keep breathing. Weight loss can help but those with severe sleep apnea may need the help of a sleep machine called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and mask. Your health depends on it as sleep apnea is linked to heart disease, loss of memory, depression and diabetes so talk to your doctor if this concerns you.
If you follow these recommendations your quality of sleep (and quality of life) should improve instantaneously. If you still experience sleepiness well into the late morning, your bed might be past it’s best! See our tips for updating your mattress.
