Author: sophie

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Sleepeezee News

Sleepeezee: The Makeover

Sleepeezee best mattress

They say a picture is worth a thousand words… well we’ve been busy bringing the Sleepeezee story to life with new photography. 

Let us take you behind the scenes on our latest shoot and give you a first look at some of our favourites…

With an entire week booked in stunning locations across southern England, we couldn’t wait to see what our photographer and stylist had dreamt up.

Day one took us to beautiful Bath where we met our creative team. Each room set was individual in design and style, but all showed exactly what environment can be created with a Sleepeezee bed. 

We then made our way to Wiltshire for days two and three. With its striking Georgian features, this beautiful house was the perfect backdrop to show off our beds. Which sleep sanctuary is your favourite?  

We had a little helper on our final day in Surrey – can you spot our stylist’s puppy? As well as cute dogs, the other great thing about a long week on set was there was always somewhere to catch up on some much needed zzz! 

Whether you’re looking for a new bed or simply in need of a little interior inspiration, we hope you love our new photography just as much as we do.

Our retailers will soon be displaying our new shots in store but for now, you can explore our collections here and follow us Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all things Sleepeezee.  

 

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Health and Wellbeing Sleep Hygiene Sleep Tips

How to Make The Most of National Bed Month

National Bed Month

National Bed Month is here!

Yes, that’s a whole month dedicated to encouraging you to spend more time in bed – what could be better?

Organised by the National Sleep Council, National Bed Month takes place every year throughout March. Its main purpose is to create awareness of the importance of getting a good night’s sleep – and how having the right bed can help.

Here at Sleepeezee, we couldn’t agree more and we think you should get involved too. Here’s a list of ways you can make the most of National Bed Month.

  1. Put your bed through an MOT

You sleep in it for 6 – 8 hours a night, almost 365 nights a year. In fact, you probably spend more time in your bed than in any other place in your home. But when was the last time your bed had an MOT?

Fortunately, a bed MOT (that’s Mattress Obsolescence Test) doesn’t involve lugging your mattress to the nearest servicing centre. You can carry out your very own assessment from the comfort of your home, by taking The Sleep Council’s quick quiz.

  1. Complete a digital detox

Do you frequently find yourself falling asleep with the TV playing away in the background?

There’s no denying technology has a big role to play in our lives – but it shouldn’t at bed time. It’s well known that digital distractions can play havoc with our sleeping routines, so why not kick tech out of your bedroom this month and see how it improves your sleep – chances are you won’t even miss it!

  1. Watch your diet

Avoid over-eating before bedtime this month and choose foods with sleep-promoting chemicals such as chicken, turkey, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, peanuts, beans and milk.

Equally, limit stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine which reduce sleep quality and prevent you feeling rested.

  1. Try out a new mattress – Sleepeezee style

National Bed Month is the perfect time to start thinking about a new mattress. What you sleep on plays a huge part in how well you sleep.

A bed with the correct support and comfort will ensure you wake less throughout the night, aren’t disturbed by your partner and are less likely to wake up feeling tired or aching.

If your bed isn’t doing its job make sure you discover our collection of handcrafted beds, each designed to give you the perfect night’s sleep.

  1. Upgrade your bedding

When it comes to creating your optimal sleeping environment, it’s not just about the bed itself.

While your bed and mattress are vital to a healthy, rested night’s sleep, it’s really important to combine them with bedding that performs too.

So if you’ve completed your bed MOT and are happy with your mattress choice, it’s time to turn your attention to your bedding. And what better way to treat yourself than with some luxury textiles? For maximum comfort, look for natural fibres for the perfect sleep-enhancing combination.

There you have it, our five top tips to help you make the most of National Bed Month.

We’ll be sharing more tips and advice on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages so follow us for your daily dose of all things Sleepeezee!

 

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Lifestyle Sleep Tips

How To Avoid Tiredness At Work

Tierdness at work

Do you often find yourself feeling tired at work and tempted to shut your eyes – just for a minute? You’re not alone.

Whether you work full time, part time or from home, everyone’s energy flags now and then – and for many reasons. But if you’re constantly running out of steam at work, it could be your brain’s way of signalling that you’re burnt out.

Fear not, we’ve pulled together five top tips to help you stay more alert at work…

Stay hydrated

We all know we’re supposed to drink between six and eight glasses (1.2 litres) of water per day but many of us admittedly fall short – and the dehydration can affect our energy and focus at work.

Sipping caffeine may give you a short term boost but drinking water throughout the day is far more effective – and healthier!

Revive your senses

Circadian rhythms regulate our sleep cycle and are influenced by sunlight so try to spend at least 30 minutes outside each day. This will increase your alertness throughout the day and promote good sleep at night.

Give your eyes a break

Many of us spend too much time behind a screen at work – as well as on our smart phones throughout the day.

Try to avoid staring at your screen for long periods at a time as the strain on your eyes can make you seriously tired. Also, why not read a book at lunch time instead of scrolling social media?

Start a conversation

If you feel yourself drifting away, engage in a conversation with one of your colleagues to help stimulate your mind.

Or, if you’re worried about disturbing co-workers, you could pop in your headphones and listen to some energising music.

Stand up

Sitting for too long can make you feel tired so if possible, stand or walk round the office regularly.

Desks that can adjust to standing positions offer great options for people who just need to work through a lull or want to get the benefits of added circulation.

For more sleep tips and to keep up to date with all things Sleepeezee, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

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Health and Wellbeing Sleep Tips

How To Maximise Your Children’s Sleep This Half Term!

Childs sleep routine

As a parent you’re probably no stranger to worn-out children on the Sunday evening after the half term break.

Some call this ‘Sunday night syndrome’, others call it ‘Sunday fear’. Either way, it often occurs after having an eventful, fun-packed week and a sudden realisation that it’s time to go back to school.

As fun as half term can be for your little ones, it can also be detrimental to their sleep routines. This may leave your children dragging themselves back to school on Monday morning feeling drained.

That said, getting a good night’s sleep on a Sunday can boost their chances of a bright and productive week ahead.

Here are our top tips for helping you maximise your kids’ sleep this half term…

Keep to their regular bedtime schedule

It’s important to keep your children’s sleep routine consistent –  this includes weekends and school holidays!

Allowing them to sleep in – or stay up late – can damage the routine you’re trying to establish.

Turn off electronics

All electronics should be shut off or taken away at least an hour before bedtime to ensure a restful night’s sleep.

Not only are they mentally stimulating, the artificial light they emit tricks the brain into thinking it needs to stay awake as it associates light with daytime.

Keep them fit and healthy

A healthy diet combined with regular exercise will help your children wind down quicker at night.

A good quality diet has been proven to boost sleep and keeping your children active will ensure they’re worn out come bedtime.

Create an ideal sleep environment

Your children should associate their bed with sleep – not other types of activities.

If they enjoy spending time in their room during the daytime, try getting them a beanbag to sit in as they read or play video games. This way you can ensure that your bed is identified strictly with sleeping.

We hope this shows you just how important good quality restorative sleep is for your children.

The recommended amount of sleep for children is at least 10 hours to allow their brains to grow and develop, particularly at primary school age. As you’re probably already aware, when they don’t get enough sleep at night it can start to show during the day!

What do you do to ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep? Let us know on our Facebook page or Twitter.

 

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Health and Wellbeing

Eight Must-Eat Foods For The Best Sleep Ever

Foods to help you Sleep

You may not know, but your diet can have a huge impact on your sleep – that’s why eating the right foods is so important to getting a good night’s kip.

While you probably already know it’s not a good idea to have caffeine or sugar before bedtime, meaning chocolate is firmly off the agenda as a midnight snack, there’s still a whole host of food you can enjoy before bed to prepare for a great night’s sleep.

Here’s our round-up of the top sleep-inducing foods to help you nod off at night…

Go nutty with almonds

Almonds contain tryptophan and magnesium, which both help to naturally reduce muscle and nerve function while also steadying your heart rhythm – so grab a handful before bed and you’ll be dozing off in no time!

Swap sugar for honey

Refined sugar can keep you awake however honey contains glucose, which tells your brain to shut off orexin – the chemical known to trigger alertness. So using honey to satisfy your sweet tooth before bed may actually help you sleep better.

Have a cuppa

…but not the caffeinated kind! Swap your brew for chamomile tea which contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in your brain. This is said to promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia – sounds like a dream to us!

Go bananas

The magnesium and potassium in bananas serve as muscle and nerve relaxants. The fruit also contains vitamin B6 which converts tryptophan into serotonin, increasing relaxation even more.

Time to go cold turkey?

Did you feel the effects of Christmas dinner on your sleep over the festive period? It might not just be the big meal that left you feeling sleepy – the tryptophan in turkey can make you feel drowsy, but the jury is still out on whether or not it has real results.

Go tropical

Kiwis have the potential to improve sleep quality. The sleep-promoting effects of kiwis are thought to be due to their content of serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate your sleep cycle – and the sweet taste may be all you need to curb any late-night sugar cravings.

Snack on hummus

Hummus is another great source of tryptophan. If you find you often wake up in the middle of the night hungry, munching on hummus during the day could be the solution.

A simple slice of whole grain bread

It’s no secret that carbs can be your best friend – and your worst enemy. Like whole grains they tend to spike the blood glucose levels but once the glucose level drops back down you will have an energy crash. This is why carbs are great for working out but make you sleepy if you have a huge lunch!

Remember, eating well isn’t the only recipe for better sleep. Our blog is full of tips and tricks to help you find a sleep solution that works for you.

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for your daily dose of all things Sleepeezee.

Happy snacking!

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Health and Wellbeing

How Does Caffeine Really Affect Your Sleep?

Caffeine and Sleep

Everyone has a favourite form of caffeine – let us guess yours… a thick, foamy espresso? Or how about a strong cup of Earl Grey tea?

Whatever your preference, it’s natural to feel like you need a boost of caffeine on a daily basis but there’s no doubt that it can affect our sleep.

While we all know that a late cup of coffee will keep us awake, giving up the liquid gold for good probably isn’t realistic. Understanding how and why coffee affects sleep is the best way to have the best of both worlds.

Where does the caffeine buzz come from?

That morning boost you feel doesn’t come from sugar or energy. Caffeine blocks a sleep-inducing chemical in the brain called adenosine, while promoting production of the heart-pumping adrenaline. Larger amounts of caffeine will also increase your blood pressure.

What is the recommended daily intake for caffeine?

A moderate intake of coffee is around 2-3 cups per day. Any more than that is deemed excessive. This is because caffeine doesn’t form a part of our nutritional requirements – it’s just a shame coffee tastes so good!

How long does caffeine take to become effective?

For its physiological effect on your body, the effects of caffeine peak between 30 and 60 minutes after your first cup.

The issue with your sleep is that caffeine’s half-life (the time it takes to remove half of the drug from your body) is up to five hours. This means that it can take up to 10 hours – sometimes longer – for caffeine to completely flush out of your system.

When should my last cup of coffee be before bed?

If your bed time is roughly 10pm on weeknights, studies suggest that you should avoid regularly consuming coffee any time after midday – sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

There will of course be occasions when exceptions are made. But if good sleep patterns and better overall quality of life are resolutions, then ensure that those occasions remain exceptions.

Like with any drug, increasing and prolonging consumption can build up a tolerance, which can turn into a negative cycle of reliance. So look to other areas of your life – like regular exercise, healthy nutrition and great sleep – in order to get the most out of your days.

So to ensure you’re getting the best night’s sleep possible we recommend cutting off that caffeine feed from midday onwards!

Have we tempted you to cut down on caffeine? Let us know over on Facebook or Twitter, and make sure you’re following us for more tips and advice how to get the best night’s sleep possible.

 

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Health and Wellbeing

How ‘Dry January’ Is the Secret to Better Sleep!

Dry January

Are you taking part in Dry January? If you are, you may have already noticed that cutting down on your alcohol intake has had a knock on effect on your quality of sleep.

While there are obvious benefits associated with avoiding alcohol – such as a reduced risk of developing cancer and liver disease later in life – dry January can have a positive impact on your body in other ways too.

Here’s a run-down…

Besides proving that you can abstain from alcohol for an entire month (go on, give yourself a pat on the back), dry January can also help set a pattern that curbs drinking for the whole year.

Not ready to give it up full time? Even in the short-term, refraining from drinking alcohol can have some big benefits, especially when it comes to sleep.

Time for the facts…

For the first few days of the month, you may have experienced an inability to sleep soundly and some slight dehydration.

Your liver generally needs around four to six weeks of recovery following a heavy bout of drinking, so dry January is an ideal way of keeping your health in check – especially after the Christmas and New Year break!

You may notice your sleeping pattern improve in the long run too.

After a few days of restless sleep at the beginning of the month, by day seven you’ll likely have found yourself sleeping far more peacefully.

This means that you’ll also start waking up with far more energy the next morning, ready to take on the day.

And the sheer fact that you’ve probably cut back on going out drinking with friends can lead to you sleeping more and skipping fewer workouts!

Looking back, it’s pretty clear to see how all of that can impact how productive you are, how focused you are at work, and how you feel overall.

Of course, completing dry January is far easier said than done, so if you’re one of the millions who are now sleeping better as a result of this we salute you!

For more sleep tips and to keep up to date with all things Sleepeezee, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

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Sleep Tips

Simple Steps to Improve Your Sleep Routine

Sleep routine

With a number of factors affecting how well you sleep and your sleep routine, it’s natural to encounter the odd restless night.

However, when sleepless nights become a regular occurrence, it’s important you take it seriously. Even if you think you’re still sleeping ok, you’ve probably slowly become accustomed to an average night’s sleep.

Falling asleep may seem like an impossible dream when you’re awake at 3 a.m., but you have more control over your sleep than you may think. Following healthy sleep habits can be the difference between restlessness and restful slumber – we know which we’d prefer!

Researchers have identified a variety of practices and habits – known as “sleep hygiene” – that can help most people maximise the hours they spend sleeping, even those whose sleep is affected by insomnia, jet lag, or shift work.

Making simple but important changes to your daytime routine and bedtime habits can have a profound impact on how well you sleep, leaving you feeling mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, and full of energy all day long.

So if your mind is in overdrive during the night and you can’t sleep, here are some simple, but vital, tips to help improve your sleep routine:

1. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals

 

2. Turn your bedroom into a sleep-inducing environment

 

3. Only go to bed when you are truly tired

 

4. Increase bright light exposure during the day

 

5. Reduce blue light exposure at night

 

6. Reduce irregular or long daytime naps

 

7. Don’t eat late in the evening

 

The bottom line

Sleep plays a key role in your health and wellbeing – and it shouldn’t be underestimated.

Let’s look at the facts… One large study linked insufficient sleep to an increased obesity risk of 89% in children and 55% in adults. While other studies conclude that less than 7–8 hours per night increases your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

If you are interested in optimal health and wellbeing, then you should make sleep a top priority and incorporate some of our tips above.

And don’t forget, your mattress could be to blame too. Here’s five signs it’s time for a new mattress – you can view our full collection here.

For regular updates and a constant stream of sleep tips follow our social pages below!

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn – YouTube

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Health and Wellbeing Sleep Tips

Top Five Tips For Getting to Sleep When You Have a Cold or the Flu

Cold and Flu Sleep Tips

If you managed to avoid catching a cold so far this winter, we salute you. But that’s probably not the case for the majority of us. What started as a few sniffles quickly turned into a streaming nose, body aches and an unbearable tickly cough which almost always guaranteed a bad night’s sleep – sound familiar?

According to NHS research, over 65s, pregnant women and young children are most likely to catch a cold during the winter months – although that’s not to say you won’t even if you don’t fall into one of those categories!

Colds spread most easily through groups in close contact, such as families. A number of different viruses can cause a cold, so it’s even possible to have several colds one after the other, with each one caused by a different virus.

There may be not be a cure but we’ve pulled together some useful tips to help you beat the symptoms and catch up on some much needed sleep!

Choose the best sleeping position

Many people think it will help to stack extra pillows when they’re struggling to sleep with a cold – but it can actually cause your head to sag forward, worsening your breathing problems. A better alternative is to layer pillows to form a triangular shape to ensure your neck is supported.

Lying on your back may also worsen a postnasal drip – experts suggest sleeping on your side instead and if you wake up with one side of your nose blocked, try switching positions.

Maintain a consistent room temperature

You may be tempted to turn the heating up when suffering with a cold but don’t fall victim to this common mistake! Instead, keep the thermostat at a comfortable level: 20°C – 22°C.

Something else that’s often overlooked is the humidity. Dry air in your bedroom can worsen your symptoms and leave your nose and throat feel parched. Try using a humidifier or opening a window to maintain moisture levels in the air.

Don’t drink alcohol

Staying hydrated is one of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to shift a cold, but don’t get ahead of yourself! Alcohol is likely to dehydrate you and make other symptoms worse.

The thought of swollen sinuses should be enough to put you off until you’ve fully recovered.

Stick to your nightly routine

Studies suggest that people who don’t get enough ZZZs are three times more likely to catch a cold than those who get eight or more hours of sleep a night.

Although there’s nothing more appealing than an early night or a nap on the sofa, it’s best to wake up and head to bed at the same time as usual when you’re sick. Sticking to a schedule not only makes it easier to fall asleep but it can also help you avoid catching another cold.

Ensure you have a comfortable bed

Regardless of whether you have a cold or not, an uncomfortable bed will leave you with many restless or even sleepless nights.

If your bed isn’t doing its job make sure you head on over to our website to see our full collection of handcrafted beds, each designed to give you the perfect night’s sleep.

Don’t let cold and flu season ruin your January… follow these simple steps to a happier, healthier new year. For more sleep tips and to keep up to date with all things Sleepeezee, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.