***Collaborative post***

Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely essential for your overall health and wellbeing. Sure, when we think about leading a healthy lifestyle, we tend to automatically think about diet and exercise. But sleep really does play a major role too. Getting your recommended eight hours of sleep a night can make sure that your body has time to rest and recuperate. It gives your mind time to filter through all the information you’ve collected throughout the day, removing that that isn’t important and holding onto that that is important. If you have injuries or are sick, sleep also provides valuable recovery time. So, what can you do to ensure you get a good night’s sleep? Here are some suggestions that can help to get the ball rolling.

Shut Out Natural Light

Natural light plays a major role in your sleep-wake cycle. When the sun rises and your body is exposed to natural light, your circadian rhythms will recognise this and encourage you to wake up. This is an evolutionary response. When the sun sets and natural light is removed from your environment, your body will begin to wind down and get ready to sleep. So, it’s important to make sure that you can shut out natural light in your sleeping space. This can help to ensure that you get your eight hours of rest no matter what time you decide to rise. There are a few ways to do this. You can use black out curtains or blinds, z frame shutters online and you can even opt to wear a sleep mask too.

Replace Your Mattress Once Every Eight Years

Mattresses are key to sleep quality. This is the space you will lie down and nod off. A comfortable mattress that supports your body correctly can really help you to slip into deep sleep and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. Now, a lot of people don’t actually know this, but it’s recommended that you replace your mattress for a new one once every eight years. There are plenty of reasons for this. Even if your mattress seems in good shape, eight years of sleep, tossing, turning, rolling over and getting in and out can impact its structure and quality. Replacing it will ensure that you have a new mattress that truly supports your body throughout the night. This is also important for hygiene reasons, as mattresses are difficult to clean and replacing them can ensure you have a new, clean option to sleep on.

Block Out Noise

Many of us are noise-sensitive when it comes to sleep, with noises waking us and jarring us. If you fall into this category, it’s important that you take steps to block out noise while you’re sleeping as best possible. The easiest way to go about this is to wear earplugs. However, if this still doesn’t work, you may want to choose options such as reconsidering where you live (if you live on a busy or noisy road or near an airport) or installing soundproofing in your walls.

Hopefully, these simple steps can make all the difference when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep!