Improve Your Sleeping Habits

A healthy adult usually needs around 7-9 hours of sleep a night in order to rest and repair our mind and body. It's vital for good physical and mental health and wellbeing. However, age, health and personal circumstances affect how much sleep we need, plus some people naturally sleep more than others.

Sleep problems are common, and the reasons we struggle to sleep are likely to change throughout our lives. A few sleepless nights are usually nothing to worry about, but it can become an issue if a lack of sleep starts to affect your daily life.

Some signs or symptoms of sleep problems can include the below. You may:

• find it difficult to fall asleep

• lie awake for long periods at night

• wake up several times during the night

• wake up early and be unable to get back to sleep

• feel down or have a lower mood

• have difficulty concentrating

• be more irritable than usual
  

There are lots of things that influence how well we sleep. Some people are light sleepers, or take a while to get to sleep, some may sleep badly due to worries or stress in life, whilst others may have bad sleep habits that can cause sleep problems.

Some tips for sleeping better:

1. Have a good sleep routine

2. Relax and unwind before bed

3. Create a restful sleep environment

4. Do not force sleep

5. Improve sleep through diet and exercise

6. Pay attention to what you eat and drink

7. Limit daytime naps

8. Manage worries

9. Minimise light and noise and regulate temperature

If poor sleep is affecting your daily life or causing you distress, talk to your GP. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better sleep you deserve.