ALL ABOUT YOU HOW YOU CAN GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP

One in five of us will suffer from chronic sleeplessness at some stage in life. Here, Emma shares her snooze-improving advice

Ihave dedicated a great deal of energy to cultivating the perfect environment to sleep soundly. Even when I was breastfeeding two little ones, my routines around rest were fastidious and effective. When I get a new client, one of the first things I ask is how many hours’ sleep they manage. If they struggle to regularly get a good night’s rest, I ask them to take photographs of their bedroom from every angle, then we dedicate a whole session to adapting their space. This involves making their bedroom tidy and the bed as comfortable as possible, as well as investing in good-quality pillows and a decent quilt. That way, if you do wake up, rather than feeling stressed, you can allow yourself to just lie warm and comfortably in your cosy bed, making it simpler to return to sleep. Before going to bed, there are some proven rules to follow. Make sure you are tired. This may seem obvious, but people go to bed at a time they believe they should, rather than listening to their bodies. Wind down by having a bath, burning lavender candles, drinking chamomile tea and avoiding screens for an hour before bed. Read instead. On the odd occasion that I struggle to sleep, I play white noise or guided relaxation (like the free Pacifica app) and meditation tunes, to take me away from my own thoughts and keep me calm. Get outside for 40 minutes daily to reduce anxiety and increase sleep quality. If you are really struggling after trying all of these techniques, see your GP, as you may need some extra help.