SLEEP WELL

A GOOD BED... AND OTHER WAYS TO SLEEP WELL

Dr John Shaw is a psychology lecturer at De Montfort University specialising in sleep. He’s also a sleep consultant for Danish furniture store JYSK.

“Sleep is integral to our lives” he told MC magazine. In western cultures we don’t place enough emphasis on it – we’re so focused on production that sleep is something we tolerate. Yet sleep disorders cost the economy £40 billion. We need to change our thinking.” John’s tips for overcoming sleep problems:

• Don’t dwell on it. We tend to put too much expectation on ourselves. Trying too hard to calm down can itself build a stressful scenario

Recognise the moment – the optimum time to go to bed is when you’re not quite sleepy but you know you will be very soon

• Even if you don’t get a complete nights sleep, acknowledge that every part of your sleep does something good •

• Don’t doze on the sofa before bed. But wakeful rest is ok

Don’t watch movies in your bedroom – it creates thoughts in your brain that this room is not just for sleep

If you can’t sleep don’t agonise – get up, go in a different room, maybe read – create a relaxed feel. Know you can still function tomorrow – it’s not the end of the world

If your to do list is keeping you awake make a mental list and how much of that list you’ll get done by say mid morning

And finally... get a good bed and pillows that suit. Scandinavian countries have two single beds together so each mattress has its own level of firmness

The Irish proverb ‘a good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures’. This is so true!

DID YOU KNOW... that dreams foster insight? Paul McCartney reportedly had the idea for ‘Yesterday’ in a dream.

We might like our own space but animals sleep in pairs, including otters who actually sleep holding hands!