Lights out, better sleep

Believe it or not, your body has its very own internal clock. Although those that find it really hard to wake up on a morning may disagree, you naturally have the ability to keep track of time by yourself. Your body does this by responding to the level of light around it, which is why it's so important to consider your environment when sleeping. Artificial light Artificial light is thought to be worse than natural light for stopping you from getting to sleep. It's the blue light in the display of electronic devices such as your TV, smartphone and laptop that causes the problem, as it causes changes in your body's hormone levels, affecting the way you prepare for sleep - so there's actually science behind why you shouldn't scour through social media on your phone before bed. Natural light Natural light can work wonders when you want to wake up, and is a great solution to help you feel motivated in the mornings. As it has this awakening affect, it's not the best when you're trying to get to sleep. Creating a room as dark as possible will help tell your body that it's time to sleep now, helping you to drift off. How to fix it Changing your evening routine could have a positive effect on how well you manage to drift off. Try putting down the electronics for a good hour before you go to bed, swapping them for something that doesn't emit the blue light in question, such as a book, magazine, or even having a relaxing bath. If you tend to fall asleep to the sound of the TV, or with the lights on, getting out of this habit can do only good things. Try listening to music or an audiobook instead, and you may find your quality of sleep improving. Taking electronics out of your bedroom is another great way to get out of this habit. That means no TV, no games consoles or laptops. This way your room stays as a haven for blissful sleep. Blocking out the light As well as making a few changes to your routine, you can also invest in a couple of items to help keep your sleeping space as dark as possible. Blackout blinds are really handy for keeping things dark, and are generally subtle enough to not detract from any pretty views, delicate curtains or arrays of ornaments you have on your window sill. Another, slightly cheaper option would be to buy an eye mask. So long as you can cope with sleeping with something round your face, an eye mask can help you doze off in darkness in no time. Sources http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/lights-out-good-nights-sleep http://sleepfoundation.org/bedroom/see.php