Make the most of your winter slumber

With the clocks set to go back on the 26th October, we can all benefit from an extra hour in bed and look forward to the fact that we are five times more likely to sleep longer now the winter months are upon us.

So to help us make the most of our extra sleep, TEMPUR - the manufacturer of pressure relieving pillows and mattresses - has gotten together with respected sleep expert Dr Chris Idzikowski - Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre with more than 20 years experience in sleep research and medicine - to create ‘The Good Sleep Guide’, an easy-to-follow leaflet to the perfect night’s sleep.

The part of the brain which controls our emotions, moods, social interactions and decision making recovers from the strains of waking life during sleep. If allowed to, most young adults will sleep between seven and eight hours a night, but an unfortunate result of juggling work and family time, means that one in three of us get just five hours sleep a night.

Poor quality sleep is known to lead to problems with learning, memory, concentration and low mood. There are, however, a number of ways to help ensure you achieve the best night’s sleep possible. ‘The Good Sleep Guide’ is full of simple tips and tricks to help you get the perfect night’s rest, from ways to develop the right bedtime routine – including which foods will trigger sleep and which you should avoid – to creating the ideal sleeping environment.

Did you know that you will sleep better if the temperature of your bedroom is between 17 and 18 degrees and that you should avoid dim lighting in the bedroom as a quick transition between bright light and complete darkness triggers sleep? The guide also addresses common sleep problems and helps you get to grips with them by providing practical advice, including visualisation techniques which re-focus your mind away from day-to-day stresses and prepare your mind for sleep.

For free copies of ‘The Good Sleep Guide’ for you, your friends or family, or for more information about TEMPUR Products, email sleepadvice@tempur.co.uk.