A lack of sleep has a number of negative impacts on our health including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Poor sleep also affects our physical activity levels the next day.
To help manage this, check out the 5 tips below:
1. Breathing Exercises - Once in bed, close your eyes and focus on relaxing breathing until you naturally fall asleep. Breathe in over a count of 4, pause and breathe out over a count of 4 until you naturally fall asleep
2. Avoid stimulants and caffeine - The lifespan of caffeine within the body is around 6 hours depending on how much you have consumed. Cutting out caffeine after 2 pm may significantly improve your sleep. Switch to tea, flavoured, tea or even decaf coffee should have a significant benefit
3. Fresh air and exercise - Regular exercise and fresh air has been shown to reduce the time taken to fall asleep.
4. Create a 'relaxation' playlist - Listening to relaxing music helps decrease stress and improves sleep quality
5. Turn off the electronic devices - In the hour before bed, turn off the electronic devices (phones, laptop, TV). The artificial light inhibits melatonin production which delays and compromises sleep