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How To Get A Good Night's Sleep

How To Get A Good Night's Sleep

I'm really lucky that I've never had any issues getting to sleep. Yes, if I'm ever ill or stressed, getting a decent night's sleep can sometimes be difficult but, on the whole, I am a good sleeper. Without sounding too much of a granny, I like going to bed and enjoy feeling relaxed, waking up feeling rested and ready to take on the day. 

Don't get me wrong, in my younger years and when I lived in London, I didn't always get 8 hours+ sleep a night. Working at a record label and then at a big PR agency meant that I got many an invite to gigs, fashion parties and festivals and there was often a quick wine after work that turned into a lot of wine and no dinner. And a lack of sleep with a bright and early start in the office the next day! I now work for myself so if I have had a late night then I have the luxury of working from bed if I'm feeling a little delicate but as I get older, I can't handle the hangovers anymore and happily they're few and far between nowadays! 

I have a nice routine these days (yes, I'm a PR so like to be organised in every aspect of life, including my sleep!) and there are a few things that help me to get a good night's rest. So I thought I'd share them with you here and hopefully you can take a few tips with you for bedtime tonight! 

1. A COMFORTABLE AND COSY BED

Now, this sounds obvious but I know a lot of people who aren't happy with their bed or their mattress! It always surprises me as I really think that a bed and a mattress are an area of your home that you should invest in. You spend a lot of time in bed and if your mattress isn't comfortable or your bed isn't big enough then it's really going to affect your sleep. Recently we upgraded to the biggest bed we've ever had - a super king! It's amazing and there is no going back now - you can read about our new bed and mattress here

2. RELAXING SURROUNDINGS

I know it takes time and costs money to get your bedroom how you want it but honestly, a lick of paint and a few decor accessories such as pictures, plants and candles can actually work wonders in creating a room that you really want to relax and spend time in. If your bedroom isn't somewhere you like then you're not going to want to wind down from the day in there before you go to sleep and personally, I think that's important as everyone needs some 'me' time in their day.

3. READING A BOOK AND LISTENING TO MUSIC

You may well be reading this on your phone so you might not like what I'm about to say next but... no phones before bed! I know, I know, I am sure we are ALL guilty of this (myself included) but it's really not good for us. Your brain needs to switch off before sleep and staring at a lit-up screen, scrolling isn't going to do that.

Instead, I like to read a chapter or two of my current book and listen to the radio (granny is back - it's Radio 2 for me!) and it really helps me unwind, fall into another world for a while and forget any stresses or worries. I find keeping a couple of books and a magazine or two in easy reach by your bedside helps with this and also having a music system which you can programme to switch off.

4. FRESH AIR AND KEEPING COOL

I personally always sleep with the window open as I have asthma and like to have fresh air circulating in the bedroom. However, I was introduced to something new recently which has given me another option when it's cold or raining and I can't really have the window open. The Dyson Pure Cool Link Air Purifier which was kindly sent to me by AO.

As I mentioned, I have asthma and also sometimes hay fever, depending on the pollen count, and this removes allergens from the air to alleviate allergy symptoms. So way better than having the window open in summer months! You can check how well it's removing allergens and monitor the air purity through the Dyson app which is pretty smart. Also I hate noises, no matter how small, when I'm sleeping so I wouldn't normally have a fan in the bedroom, but for those stuffy days this clever device has a night time mode that is almost silent with dimmed lights and is a perfect option for me. I've been trying it out for a couple of weeks now and my husband and I are both impressed. 

5. HERBAL TEA AND PILLOW SPRAY

A cup of a bedtime herbal tea before you go to sleep can really help you to relax and the Pukka Night Time Tea is one of my favourites (despite having a slightly odd smell!). A spritz of pillow spray is also very relaxing and the delicious scent is really lovely to breath in whilst you're drifting off. This Feather and Down spray is one of my favourites (The This Works Deep Sleep pillow spray is good too) and even though he probably wouldn't admit to it, my husband loves it too! 

Do you have any tips that help you to have a good night's sleep? I'd love to know in the comments below!

*This post was in collaboration with AO. As always, I only ever work with brands I love and want to showcase on this blog!*

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