KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEPING RIGHT

A good night’s sleep helps us look and feel good. Conversely, the opposite is true of poor sleep – repeated poor sleep can have serious long-term negative effects on our physical and mental health.

Why is sleep so important? And how much of it should we be getting in an ideal world? If you can’t check all the boxes, let the experts at IKEA help you make a few simple changes to improve the quality of your sleep.

Make sure you get enough sleep

Sleep deprivation is not only linked to diabetes, stroke and heart disease, but also to anxiety, depression and obesity. Getting less than 7 hours each night means you have a 30% more chance of experiencing weight issues than people who get 9 hours.

Studies also show that children and teenagers need far more sleep than adults – ranging from 16.5 hours for a new-born baby to about nine hours for a 16-year old. The average adult is said to require at least 7.5 hours of sleep each day.

Follow a routine that ensures comfort

Try getting a good night’s sleep by making sure you stick to a routine and going to bed at a regular time. Choose a mattress and bed linen that are designed for comfort from an array of choices at IKEA.

Next, make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet when you head to bed. Avoid any stimulants that are bound to interfere with your sleep. Things like coffee, tea, nicotine and chocolate are bad just before bedtime.

Avoid electronics and night lights

Light can throw the body clock off. For example, leaving night lights on can seriously interfere with the natural order of things. Cellphones, tablets, laptops and TVs give off bluish light that tricks our minds into thinking it’s daytime. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why we sleep badly.

So, put a ban on all things electronic just before bedtime. And if you can’t fall asleep immediately, read a few pages from a book – but make sure you use orange-hued lighting or lamps from IKEA’s vast range of lighting products.

Try music and candles

Consider truly winding down with some soft music while getting ready to sleep. Take a warm bath or try meditation to put you into the perfect mood and help you drift away.

Using scented candles has also been reported to help aid the sleep process greatly too. Lavender, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang are age-old favorites that help relax the mind by reducing anxiety and relieving insomnia.

Go on then, try these simple hacks to get yourself some much-needed quality sleep.