ED’S LETTER

Iam a minimalist sleeper. If sleep were décor, mine would be Scandinavian. I’ve battled with it at various times of my life for as long as I can remember, and I know there are plenty of you who are in the same position. In a way I’m almost used to it and it hardly bothers me any more: I read, think, mull over things or plan what I’ll do when I win the lotto. (Of course, I have to enter first, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem in the middle of the night.) I’ve learned to recognise the 3am Dreads for what they are and banish them until daylight, when they vaporise all by themselves. And sometimes I get up the following day feeling very directed and clear-headed – almost as a result of having all that extra time to consider things overnight. Mostly, it all works fine for me.

But sometimes, after about four or five nights of Scandi-sleep, I know I need to Do Something About It. I’m not a huge fan of pills so I’ve tried a lot of other things: warm baths (back in the day), stretching, meditation, no screens, chamomile tea, lavender-scented pillows… sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. It’s a process, this sleeplessness. What works one day might not work the next.

That’s why we’re focusing on sleep this issue, because if you can’t even sleep in winter, you have a problem. Marli Meyer has experimented with various sleep protocols; Liesl Robertson has tried her level best to become a morning person; Tasneem Larney has tested electric blankets; and we’re featuring two brilliant local businesses that focus on sheeting. If anything works for you, please let us know. And please share any other sleep secrets you might have… it’s the decent thing to do!

Wishing you a warm and zzznuggly July.