Category: Lifestyle

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Health Health and Wellbeing Lifestyle Sleep Tips

Eight New Year’s Resolutions For Better Sleep

So it’s a new year and we get it – the past 365 days were a lot!

But we are looking ahead in 2021 and are focusing on making positive changes! It’s time to start setting ourselves wellness goals because this year we are all about self-care. Of course, top of our self-care list is The Big January Snooze – getting more sleep and looking after our bodies and mind. But here are our top resolutions for better sleep (that you can actually stick to!).

Spruce Up Your Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene simply refers to tidying up some of your everyday behaviours so that, when it’s time to go to bed, your body is ready for sleep.
This includes setting a schedule for your sleep and wake times, making sure you’re getting enough sunlight during the day, limiting light exposure at night, limiting your caffeine and alcohol consumption, and creating a sleep environment that is relaxing for you!

Try To Be More Consistent With Your Sleep Schedule

Once you’ve got all the components of your sleep hygiene in order, the next step is to stick with this new routine, Monday through to Sunday. Consistency is key, 24/7!

To Better Understand Your Sleep Patterns, Track Your Sleep

Your body and its experiences are unique to you, so just because investing in a set of blackout curtains was the answer to your roommate’s sleep issues and your sister can’t live without her new weighted blanket, that doesn’t necessarily mean these are going to solve your problems. Talking to a sleep coach is an option, but it is also worth downloading a sleep-tracking app to your phone, and reviewing the data over a period of time to see where you could improve.

Create A Sleep Environment Your Body And Mind Will Associate With Rest

We know 2020 ruined our bedrooms with the home office but your bedroom should be a sleep oasis! Bringing your laptop under the covers with you to finish up a work assignment, or scrolling through Instagram the second your head hits the pillow is the type of behaviour that is probably going to cause your mind and body to associate the bed with work. To ensure you get high-quality shut-eye in 2021, ditch the devices at the door, and try to make your bedroom a place of pure comfort and calm.

Start Separating Yourself From Technology An Hour Before Bed

While we’re on the subject of sleep spaces, in 2021 let’s make it your New Year’s resolution to cut back on all devices at least an hour or so before you plan on getting ready for bed. This way, your mind has time to wind down for rest.

Try Not To Party Too Close To Bedtime

We get that freedom is on the horizon and it’s tempting to get in on another round of shots with your squad – especially when it’s your bestie’s round. But check the time before you throw back another tequila shot. If it’s getting late, you might want to pass and order some water!

Get Into The Habit Of Dimming The Lights In Your Home At Night

Have you ever heard of light pollution? It basically refers to when you’re overly exposed to artificial light, particularly at night. Too much light pollution can make it hard to fall asleep, so dim and dismiss artificial light sources in your home late in the evening.

Keep Stress Levels Low

If we’ve learnt anything from 2020 it’s that stress affects pretty much everything in your life — from the way you look, to how you sleep. To avoid the effects stress can have on your sleep cycle, try and do everything you can to keep your body and brain feeling cool, calm, and collected in 2021. This can be anything from morning meditation or even a few walks throughout the day.

 

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Lifestyle

Is The Festive Food Coma Real?

 You’ve done it – you’ve gone and eaten yourself into a food coma. You don’t know whether to be disappointed in yourself or chuffed. But you’ll certainly know the symptoms immediately.

It washes over you roughly half an hour after you finally stop eating your Christmas dinner. Ideally, you’d retire to your bedroom to sleep while the effects of your food wear off. But it’s Christmas and the show must go on!

To help you live out the festive season to the full we’ve has a look at what causes the Christmas food coma and how you can combat the food hangover without relying on days of bed rest.

What causes a food coma?

The term ‘food coma’ has become so popular that in 2014, it was added to the Oxford dictionary. But despite its prevalence in the English lexicon, there are some misconceptions concerning the science behind what causes it.

A food coma is typically defined as a state of drowsiness or lethargy after a meal.

When we eat, the stomach produces a hormone called gastrin. As the food enters the small intestine, the cells in the gut secrete even more hormones (enterogastrone) that signal other bodily functions, including blood flow regulation.

The process causes sleepiness, as while meals are digested, more blood is diverted away from the brain and other organs to the stomach and gut in an attempt to transport the absorbed newly digested metabolites away. This leaves less blood for the rest of the body and can cause some people to feel light-headed or sleepy.

So what should you do to avoid nodding off after a meal?

Don’t overeat: We know it’s Christmas day but if you want to beat the food coma you’ll need to watch your portion size!

Don’t skip breakfast in the hope that you’ll be saving on the calories – eating a big meal when you’re in starvation mode actually makes you more sleepy.

 Walk it off: There is nothing like a family walk on Christmas day. Fresh air and movement will do you the world of good. Head out after the big meal rather than vegging out – your body will thank you for it

Don’t go to bed on a full stomach: Christmas day is often an all-day eating event which leaves many of us heading to bed once the festivities are over with a full stomach. Going to bed overly full can increase your body temperature and can disturb your sleep.

Embrace it! If all else fails, accept that it’s Christmas Day and be kind to your ‘food baby!

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Lifestyle Sleep Tips

Organise Your Sleep Space like “The Home Edit”

If you haven’t seen the Home Edit on Netflix then this is your reminder to add it to your watch list.

It premiered a couple of weeks ago and since then, it hasn’t really strayed far from the trending queue. In the show, presenters Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin help celebs and everyday clients organize and edit their home spaces.

 

Here are some of their best tips for organising your sleep space from it!

 

1. Make Your Bed in the Morning (Really!)

This first tip starts right after you wake up. As annoying as it is to do, sliding into a cool, clean bed at night is the best way to get your mind in gear for a great night’s sleep.

2. Choose a Bedside Table With Closed Storage

Drawers or a small cabinet below your nightstand can help keep visual clutter to a minimum.  Use the storage inside to tuck away books, your journal and pen, lip balm, reading glasses and other essentials.

As well as this keep the top of your nightstand simple and clutter-free, with just a few of these bedtime items:

  •         Current book
  •         Candle with a relaxing scent (try lavender)
  •         Cup of herbal tea or bottle of water

3. Make Comfort Your Priority

Too many fussy details like beading and sequins, or stiff and scratchy bedding materials, can impact your sleep. When choosing bedding, make sure whatever you choose is comforting — think crisp cotton sheets and a cozy cashmere throw.

4. Charge Your Phone Outside Your Bedroom

Using your phone as part of your bedtime routine isn’t only distracting you from sleep, it’s actually delaying your body’s ability to shut down. So, before going into your bedroom, plug it into a charger and put it away for the night.

5. Rethink the TV

Our screens emit a blue light that can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Keep the TV (and other devices) out of the bedroom, and commit to reading a real book (on actual paper, not a Kindle!) before bed.

6. Organize your space based on your routine.

It wouldn’t make sense if everyone’s bedroom was arranged in the same way because everyone’s routine looks different and every person requires different things from their space! Make sure the space is tailored to you and your need’s which can make all of the difference when you’re trying to make your routine more streamlined and efficient.

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Health Lifestyle Sleep Tips

How Can I Wind Down Before Bed?

Is there anything more frustrating than being so exhausted that your eyelids feel like lead, but you still can’t manage to get yourself to wind down? Instead, your mind is racing with everything that went wrong during the day—or that could go wrong tomorrow. Sounding familiar?

A good nighttime routine is so important in making sure that once your head hits the pillow, you are ready and able to switch off.

Sleep thrives on a regular routine. Building a great, consistent wind-down routine for the end of your day is the very best way to train your body to know that it’s time for bed. This will increase your chance of sleepiness, and make drifting off so much easier. As always, consistency is key.

First, run the perfect bath! It’s obvious and nothing new but a warm bath has really been proven to reduce anxiety and soothe aching muscles. Add a slather of lavender bath oil to kick off some relaxing aromatherapy. You could also invest in a lavender face mask, perfect for unwinding.

Next, stretch it out. Stretching and meditating even for just a few moments have been linked to better sleep and greater relaxation. Controlled breathing can also help you reduce stress and reduce your blood pressure.

Now comes the fun part. Set aside an hour or so for your wind-down activities. These should be things that are enjoyable in their own right, rather than just activities you think will make you sleepy. They shouldn’t be too stimulating, of course: activities like reading or listening to calming music are just what the doctor ordered.

Make your bedroom a sleep oasis. Turn your home into a sanctuary of relaxation by making sure your bedroom is only for sleep and sex. That means no phone time and Netflix is officially banned. As tough as this might be, it’s the only way to properly signal to your brain that this is a room for two things.

Get out of bed. It sounds counter-productive but if you’ve been lying awake for over 20 minutes, clock watching isn’t going to relax you into sleep. So get out of bed and try as reading to get you ready for sleep. After 10-20 minutes, you should feel better prepped to nod off.

Wind-down routines can be effective because there is a link between reducing physical and mental stimulation before bed and getting better sleep. However, we’re all different so, what some people find relaxing, others won’t.

Remember, a wind-down routine is very individual, so feel free to experiment and change things if something isn’t working!

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Hospitality Lifestyle

How Can I Get That Luxury Hotel Bed Feel at Home?

Last weekend we welcomed a glorious extra hour in bed – and could you imagine a better feeling than spending it in that of a luxury hotel?

There’s nothing quite like falling into a fluffy hotel bed. The sumptuous sheets, heavy comforters, and surplus of pillows make hotel beds so much better than our beds at home.

Unfortunately this year many of us have not been able to check into a luxurious hotel, but did you know that you can recreate this at home? We’ve shared our top tips for creating that hotel bed at home, bringing the Sleepeezee 5-star comfort into your own bedroom!

Sleep on a quality mattress.

When it comes to mattresses, you really get what you pay for. Many hotels invest in custom mattresses exclusively made for their hotels, so it’s actually very likely that you’ve slept on a Sleepeezee bed before, as we supply many well-known hotels throughout the UK!

These ranges can be found over on our website.

Sink into the softest sheets

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about a 5 star hotel is the feeling you get when sinking into the bed. The good news is, it’s incredibly easy to replicate this feeling in your own home simply by ensuring you have the best bedding for the job.

Crisp, clean sheets give an instant feeling of luxury. Opt for pure cotton, high thread count linen which will help regulate temperature and moisture levels.

More is more when it comes to pillows.

When they said less is more, they were not talking about pillows. So when it comes to dressing your bed, building up the perfect number of pillows, cushions and throws will have a big impact on both the style and comfort.

The best hotels are normally equipped with two to four pillows and perhaps a few decorative ones as well.

Make going to bed a ritual.

While you may not have access to a hotel turn-down service at home, you can recreate the experience by devising your own bedtime ritual. The best thing for sleep is to unwind at the end of the day by dimming the lights, listening to music and pulling back your sheets.

Finishing Touches

To perfect the hotel feel at home, add some colour to balance out your white linen. Give your bedroom a brand new look with an eye-catching Sleepeezee headboard and add some decorative cushions to really complete that luxury hotel look.

Finally, light your lavender-scented natural candle and relax in style – bedtime will never be the same again!

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Health and Wellbeing Lifestyle Sleep Tips

Sleepeezee’s Sleep Expert – A Day In The Life of Sammy Margo

When it comes to our morning and sleep routines, most of us have very different styles. Some of us (ahem, night owls) might hit snooze a million times before getting out of bed and scrambling to pull together a look, while others — those bright-eyed morning people — might rise with the sun and crack on with the day.

There’s no right way to spend those first few hours of daylight, but we’ve sat down and spoken to our Sleep Expert, Sammy Margo to see how she gets ready each and every morning before she goes about her day!

 

 

5.00am – 7.00am:

“I usually wake at 5 in the morning. I love the mornings and get a lot of thinking stuff done first thing – including writing this blog! I am most definitely a morning person, I spring out of bed and get into my gym gear, and then I’ll jump straight into an hour of work whilst enjoying my morning coffee.

After my ‘hour of power’, I head off to the gym to lift weights. I love weight lifting. It lifts my mood and keeps me on track for the day. Exercising first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day and it sets my body clock (circadian rhythm ) for sleep in 16 to 18 hours’ time.”

 

7.00am – 10.00am:

“Around this time I’ll jump into mum-mode and make sure my son is all set for school. As a mum, I love to do the school run and make sure that my work is scheduled in between this. Often this means that I am rushing between the two, but it is so worth it! After doing the school run I head straight off to work.

At around 10am I will have my last cup of coffee for the day! I tend not to drink caffeine after 10am as it affects my quality of sleep. Some of us can be caffeine sensitive and feel the effects hours later. so keep your coffees to the morning and don’t forget that some herbal/green teas also contain caffeine.”

 

10.00am – 6.00pm:

“My working day is very full-on and physical so I have to eat little and often at the same times each day. As a reformed sugar addict, I make sure that I eat protein at most mealtimes and hide the biscuits! This definitely keeps me calmer and also helps my sleep routine. Turkey is a great sleep aid as it contains tryptophan which is a precursor to your sleepy hormone ‘melatonin’. “

 

6.00pm – 9.00pm:

“The evenings are often spent working on the computer or relaxing with friends. My son uses this time to do his homework and limited social media. I do make sure that both of us have a technology cut-off which usually takes place by 8pm.

 

This is so that we can reduce our blue light exposure which may have an effect on the quality of our sleep. This includes the TV screen, Xbox and the PS4! My life is all the Fs – Food, Football, Fifa and Fortnite.

 

I’m also not a drinker but on the odd occasion when I do drink, I know that I won’t get the best night’s sleep. This is because alcohol prevents you from falling into the deeper stages of sleep, leaving you feeling groggy the next day.”

 

9.00pm – 10.00pm:

“Our bedtime routine usually means that we start winding down at around 9 o’clock. My son has a similar bedtime routine but getting a teenager into bed can be tricky at times with all the tech around. Reading at bedtime is also a good habit for teens in terms of creating positive communication together. Teaching teens the value of sleep is therefore a really important lesson.

My wind down time involves listening to an audiobook, having a warm shower and a camomile tea. I then end my day by getting into bed at around 10.”

 What’s your typical day like? Let us know over on our social channels! 

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Health Health and Wellbeing Lifestyle

8 Ways To Show Your Mental Health Some TLC

Did you know one in four of us is affected by a mental health disorder at some point in our lives? Despite this, so many of us don’t prioritise our mental wellbeing.

Here at Sleepeezee, we know our mental health plays a pivotal role in our overall well being. We’ve listed eight ways you can show your mental health some love below. Whether you embrace one, a couple or all eight, it’s up to you. Just remember to take some me-time once in a while. Your mental health will thank you for it.

 

Talk It Out

We get it, talking about mental health is sometimes easier said than done, but there’s truth in the old adage ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Bottling up stress, anxious or negative thinking can build up and feel worse over time. So grab a pal, your other half, or a trusted colleague and have a little chat. It doesn’t have to be much or too deep, but you might find it releases some tension. 

 

Get Moving

Moderate exercise has been proven to help improve your mood and general wellbeing, by releasing endorphins. So, whether you prefer getting your heart rate up by swimming lengths or on a brisk walk in the park, aim to exercise for around 150 minutes a week.

 

Stick To A Routine

Having a routine helps us feel grounded in times of uncertainty. Whether it’s waking up at the same time each morning, going outdoors every afternoon or winding down the same way each night, it can work wonders for our mental health.

 

Shut It Down

Lots of studies suggest spending hours scrolling on your phone can have negative effects on our mental health. So try stepping away from your screen for an hour each evening and spend time doing something else you enjoy.

 

Ditch The Alcohol

A few gins down the pub might leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, but the effect is temporary. Drinking alcohol can exacerbate low mood, be demotivating, impact physical health, and disturb your sleep.

 

Eat Well

Having a healthy, balanced diet will impact how we feel from day to day. Ensuring we eat right will leave us feeling healthy and energised.

 

Do Something For Yourself

From enjoying your favourite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax, it’s 

important to do things that make you happy.

 

Prioritise sleep

Saved the best until last! Sleep is essential to both physical and mental health, but catching those Zzz’s isn’t always easy. We’ve got a host of sleep tips over on our blog, and of course, a comfortable bed helps!

 

When looking after your mental health, it’s sometimes good to start small and think flexibly. Much like sleep routines, self-care feels different to everyone!

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Health and Wellbeing Lifestyle

Can Bedtime Reading Improve a Child’s Imagination?

Our imaginations are a wonderful thing – we can create any world or scenario in our minds, and envisage ourselves in a variety of places or positions. Oh to be a child again!

Imagination can take you anywhere you wish, and it’s more often than not what sparks our dreams while we’re snoozing. However, in today’s highly digital world, with children, in particular, spending more time than ever gazing at screens, you can’t help but wonder about the effects of our devices before bedtime.

The bedtime story often falls prey to our busy schedules and long working hours, but there’s something very special about a bedtime story being read out loud. A bedtime story doesn’t require children to focus on the mechanics of learning to read but on the enjoyment of the story and the idea of being transported to other worlds before drifting into dreaming about them.

Are bedtime stories beneficial?

A good way of boosting your imagination is reading. However, nowadays it can seem like books are overlooked at bedtime in favour of TVs, smartphones and tablets.

But books open up whole new worlds to children, both real and imagined, and sharing a bedtime story will take them to places they’d never have dreamed of.

Books can teach your child about the world while also opening their imagination. Reading fiction provides specific information gaps that your child can fill with their own imagination, and this guesswork and decision-making stimulate the mental patterns that are fundamental to creativity.

Reading to your child will also expand their emotional vocabulary, giving them words for what they are feeling. This can make them better able to express themselves, and less prone to the emotional meltdowns that can happen when they’re wrestling with feelings that they don’t know how to talk about.

Alongside this, it can also improve mental wellbeing by helping children foster coping skills and in building self-confidence. The perfect way to wind down before an important night of rest.

So we’re not saying to completely stop using your smartphone – but in terms of your sleep routine, it might be worthwhile looking at alternative ways to spend that last hour before the lights go out!

Did you have a favourite book to read as a child? Let us know over on our social channels and tag us using @Sleepeezee

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Lifestyle

Sleepeezee Autumn / Winter 2020 Trends

When the leaves start to fall and we know autumn is on its way, there’s only one thing we want – for summer to stay! (Even with the never ending heatwaves…)

But it’s also the perfect time to make your home cosy for the changing of the seasons. We’ve pulled together our favourite autumn/winter trends for this year so you have your pick of soothing materials and warm colours to make your place warm and ready for the winter months.

Cosy country

A recurring trend that is popular throughout autumn/winter is the classic country look, known to suit any style of property and home.

A stylish colour story this coming season will be sage greens and earthy tones, complementing wood and other natural materials perfectly.  Our Campaign for Wool collection is perfect for this trend due to its sustainability credentials and cosy cottage feel. 

Rich and bejewelled 

Embrace rich and bejewelled tones this autumn/winter and feel ultra luxurious. Darker colours and heavier fabrics help create a moody atmosphere, which is a different take on a classic cosy feel. It’s still possible to maintain a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom while being more eccentric with your decor.

Investing in a statement headboard and base in a bejewelled tone such as teal, burgundy or burnt orange is just one way to bring a burst of life to your bedroom. The Pure Collection enhances all of this and more, but when paired with a Sleepeezee headboard and base the trend truly comes to life and will become the focal point of your bedroom! 

Boho Chic

This autumn/winter earthy tones are a strong palette and promise to remain evident as we move into 2021.

This is about muted oranges and terracotta tones or reds, teamed with accessories using natural and rustic materials. Boho chic interior doesn’t get better than this. Featured here with the Royal Backcare 1600 mattress, this trend really sets the tone of the room and allows the bed to shine in a calming yet rustic atmosphere.

Natural Schemes

Heading in a more laid-back direction, creating a cosy and safe environment will become a focus for many homes as we transition to the colder months.

Embracing a more neutral look, the “natural schemes” trend will favour softer tones and natural fabrics, including summer’s best friend, linen. This trend works perfectly in bedrooms as it offers a safe and comforting environment for you to wind down. Our G Memory collection combines our latest technology Graphite Memory Foam which works perfectly with this trend. Creating a soft comforting sleep haven whilst contouring to your body for optimum support and posture throughout the night.

 After a spring and early summer that none of us were expecting, making the most of the remainder of 2020 is important when it comes to enjoying each room of your home!

So which of these autumn/winter trends will you be trying this year? Share your images with us over on our social channels, tag us @Sleepeezee