ARE YOU TOO STRESSED TO SLEEP?

Avoid restless nights with these calming tips to help you nod off

Feeling on edge? Being tense and anxious not only affects us negatively during the day, it also has a huge impact on our sleep. In fact, as many as 42%* of Brits say that anxiety keeps them awake. ‘Many people struggle to sleep due to worries manifesting at night,’ says sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan. Sound familiar? If you’re losing out on much-needed shut-eye right now, our expert advice may help.

MOVE IN THE MORNING We know that exercise is good for beating stress, but it’s the movement you do first thing which could benefit your body and mind at night. Working out at 7am could help you get a better night’s sleep, found one study**. Early exercisers saw a 10% drop in blood pressure, slept longer and had more beneficial sleep cycles compared to those who worked out at 1pm or 7pm.

SORT YOUR SPACE A cluttered bedroom could be adding unnecessary stress. ‘A comfortable, healthy environment will help promote deep, restful sleep.’ says Neil Robinson, sleep expert at Emma mattresses. Choose breathable bed linen, soft, low lighting and scent your room with lavender before you hit the hay.