Power of Sleep

With it being World Sleep Day today, I thought I'd talk about the many different components of sleep, what it does to our own well being and how it can help with recalling.

Sleep is a topic we're all interested in for many different reasons whether its a power nap to get our energy back in the middle or day or if you've had a long day and just want to switch off (humans spend a 1/3 of their lives asleep). It is also the time when we can leave our waking lives behind and enter a world of sleep and 'pure imagination' dreams for hours at a time.

One of my favourite things about sleep is the dreams that happen during the course of us resting; these can happen in cycles and have found them to be like being on a rollercoaster ride as there are high moments aka the good things and then the lows aka the nightmares.

Dreams are also the place where anything and everything can happen as well as anyone and everyone can be involved. These people, places and things can appear there from something we may have witnessed throughout the day triggering a memory, both good or bad, and even because the brain can become super emotional throughout the course of sleeping.

Here are some facts for you about sleep

• Boosts immune system

• Plays a part in giving you a healthier heart and happier outlook on life

• Helps prune your brain to be receptive, alert and ready to acquire new information

• Thursday is proved to be the best night to sleep (only 5% of sleep problems) whilst Sunday is the worst night to sleep (46% of sleep problems).

• REM (Rapid Eye Movement) plays a huge part in learning and memorising information we process throughout the day and dreams we experience.

Due to sleep being paramount in our daily lives, shops & companies now sell accessories/products to help assist with good nights sleep, these include eye masks, pulse point roller balls and oil diffusers when practicing meditation and yoga.

Over the past couple of years, there have been many different techniques I have experimented with, some worked and some have not, below are a list of the ones that have proven to be the most beneficial.

• Switch phone into night mode/do not disturb

• Sleep Stories/Music- this is one of my personal favourites as they are soothing and pretty much takes you into dreamland instantly (some of which are available on 'Sleep Stories' & 'Sleep Music' sections on here)

• Try to keep a regular sleep schedule/routine going

• Check caffeine and nightcap intake throughout the course of the day

• Get outside every day

• Let go of worries playing on your mind

• Schedule screen free time (something we are all very guilty of, myself included)

• Drink either certain teas or milks before going to bed (warm milk works for non tea/coffee drinkers like myself)

• RELAX (The most important technique you can practice and use!!)

Hope all of this helped!! Remember to speak to your GP if you are experiencing difficulty in sleeping or insomnia. Pleasant dreams!!