Semi-Somnia
Are you at risk of semi-somnia?
Do you fit into one of the personality types below?
Stress about sleep: You worry about the amount of sleep you get, you believe you need a certain amount every night and if you don’t get it you start to stress about it.
Take your problems to bed: You use the time just before you go to sleep to talk about your problems and work or money worries with your partner. Thoughts like this stop you getting restful sleep.
Can’ put your blackberry down: Are you still checking your emails just before you get into bed, or glued to your laptop late at night, you probably find it hard to wind down when you get into bed.
So much to do, so little time: Sleep is for wimps, you pride yourself about how hard and how late you work.
OK so does that sound like you, then here’s what you can do about it.
- Eat 3 or 4 hours before bedtime.
- Switch off laptops and mobile phones 30 minutes before you go to bed and don’t have them in the bedroom.
- Listen to your bodies sleep signals – how many times have you sat in front of the TV half asleep while yawning your head off?
- Try not to watch TV or listen to the radio, some people do find this useful as part of their pre sleep routine, but try to limit it to 30 minutes
- Find a way to relax, take a warm bath or try some meditation, perhaps ready a chapter of a book.
- Keep your bedroom cool – our bodies need to cool down for sleep, keep natural light out
- Clear your mind, if you have a busy day the next day, make a list of everything you need to do and keep it somewhere safe.
- If you wake up during the night and can’t get back to sleep, don’t lie there and think about the sleep you’re not getting. Get up, make a drink, read or something to allow you to feel sleepy again, go back to bed.
- Exercise – You knew I was going to say that didn’t you! But exercise is a great way to lower stress or get rid of the frustrations of the day, a brisk walk or run are a great way to calm yourself down.
