4. Create a bedtime ritual
Try some different relaxation techniques like breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation. Starting with your toes, tense all the muscles as tightly as you can, then completely relax. Work your way up from your feet to the top of your head. Have a warm bath and a warm drink such as chamomile tea or warm milk. Try to avoid caffeine and try to have your drink at least an hour before you go to bed so that it won’t wake you for a midnight bathroom visit!
Scientists have also found that the best way to sleep is in your birthday suit! But if you feel more comfortable in pajamas, they recommend lightweight cotton ones as they won’t affect your body’s natural temperature regulation.
5. Wind Down
Try doing something calming before bed, such as reading or listening to some calm music. For some people, using electronics before bed can make it hard to fall asleep because the particular blue light from the screens of devices activates the suprachiasmatic nucleus within the hypothalamus inside the brain, which makes the brain believe it is daytime. iOS has released a new feature called ‘Night Shift’, which changes the colour of the light emitted from the phone to a warmer, more yellow shade, which reduces the blue light, making the screen a lot less harsh. Therefore, that part of the brain isn’t disturbed as much, making the brain’s circadian rhythm act normally and allowing it to define night and day accurately.
Try experimenting with candles instead of brighter lights. This will help you relax as the lights aren’t as harsh. Then, when it is time to blow the candles out, the house will gradually get darker, which in turn will help your body get used to the darkness and relax. If you are concerned about using candles, there are battery-powered candles available; have a look online.
6. Using Sounds
What about trying a white noise generator? It creates a quiet, constant white noise throughout the night, which can be changed to sounds of the waves or rainforest and other relaxing sounds. Dr. Ralph Pascualy, the medical doctor at the Swedish Medical Center-Cherry Hill, explains:
“The brain naturally craves sensory input. That’s why people in sensory deprivation tanks hallucinate; robbed of any stimulus, the brain creates its own. During sleep on a quiet night, any random noise, whether a passing truck or a creaking floorboard, will likely activate the restless brain, waking you up. Constant white noise, he told me, “gives the brain a tonic signal that dampens its internal systems” – Dr. Ralph Pascualy
So there we have it! Our top six tips on how to get the best night’s sleep. If you try these techniques, let us know how you get on by tweeting us at @PandaLife_UK. Also, if you try any techniques we have not mentioned, please send us your advice! We love to find different ways to help our customers!
If you have trouble sleeping and it is a concern or believe you have a sleeping disorder, we advise you to consult your doctor for medical advice.