What is sleep hygiene and why is it so important?

Sleep hygiene is a term that refers to all of the many choices we make before we sleep. It’s the decisions you make throughout your day, and when you get home, to encourage optimal sleep. Creating good habits will lead to positive sleep hygiene which can help you get yourself in the best possible state physically and environmentally for a good night sleep.

In his bestselling book, Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker says that scientists now recognise sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day.

Signs you need to improve your sleep hygiene:

Feeling tired or irritable in the day

Finding it hard to get out of bed in the mornings

Feeling forgetful in the day

Lack of energy for physical activity

Wanting to nap before 12pm

Practicing positive sleep hygiene is easier when you create good habits and evening rituals. Every evening around 6 pm, when I have my I Am Rested, I’m sending a message to my brain that I’m getting ready to unwind and go to bed. It helps that I AM RESTED is packed full of mushrooms and botanicals that promote sleep and reduce stress:

L-Theanine – Extracted from Chinese green tea, L-Theanine is a unique amino acid that enhances a zen-like relaxation state, relaxing the mind.

Magnesium – Has a relaxing effect on the central nervous and muscular system

Reishi – the spore powder has the potential effect of supporting the immune system, it has been researched for its support on the central nervous system and sleep
Lavender - for its relaxing effects
Tulsi – Has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine for its calming affect on the nervous system
Passion Flower - has long been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and as a sedative to calm the central nervous system

Here are some tips and tricks we use to improve our sleep hygiene

Environment:

Turn your room into a sanctuary, keep it calm and free from mess and clutter.

Use essential oils in a diffuser such as lavender

Keep a cool temperature in your room

Make sure you have comfortable pillows and bedding

Diet:

Drink I AM RESTED " A Meticulously calculated botanical formulation cleverly combines science, nature, and flavour with intelligent infusions of plant, mushrooms, vitamins and minerals". County and Town house.

Avoid caffeine past 12pm

No alcohol before bed

Try not to eat late at night

Rituals:

Remove outdoor clothes when you come home, kick start your brain that it is time to switch off

Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake at the same time each morning

Turn off technology one hour before bed

Have wind down time where you read or listen to relaxing music

Keep a gratitude journal and write three things you are grateful for every night. Studies have shown that this reduces depression by 10%.

Do a turn down to your room like a hotel, 30 mins before bed and set the tone

Light:

Use blue light glasses if on your phone and laptop in the evening