Tag Archives: sleep

Get Him to Gargle For It

According to research one in four of us now sleeps in a separate room to our partners, with snoring being cited as one of the main reasons we kick our men out of bed.

Whilst sleeping in different rooms can mean less sex from the off, it also appears that snoring can have a bigger impact on our sex lives with it leading to lower sexual energy and less satisfying sex.

So whilst a visit to Ann Summers, a sensual massage, or a romantic dinner might help, if you really want to get things moving beneath the sheets getting your man to gargle a special kind of mouthwash might be a better bet…

Helps Stop Snoring Throat Rinse is used like any other mouth wash before bed, and has the similar anti-bacterial and breath freshening properties, but where it differs is that also contains a unique blend of essential oils that work to tone the soft tissues at the back of the throat – snoring often occurs when these soft tissues relax and vibrate as we breathe during sleeping.

Although the company haven’t got stats to show that their products will definitely improve your sex life, they have been clinically proven to help prevent snoring in four out of five users meaning we’re much more likely to find ourselves in bed with our partners in the first place and have more energy to get frisky when we do.

Helps Stop Snoring products are available in most major retailers, including Boots and Sainsbury’s. For more information please visit www.stopsnoring.co.uk

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Searching for sleep

It’s one of the most searched for terms on the internet. And it’s a question that most people ask at some point in their lives.

How To Sleep is, according to the latest Google zeitgeist list, the sixth most commonly asked ‘How To’ question.

Compiled from the millions of searches made through Google each year, the zeitgeist list – meaning spirit of the times – provides an annual insight into what matters to us most.

Tens of thousands of those searching the internet for help with their sleep find their way each month to the UKs number one source of free help and advice on sleep at www.sleepcouncil.org.uk

Jessica Alexander, spokesperson, says: “Sleep affects us all and lack of it is one of the most common health issues of our times. An unlucky few will need expert medical advice to solve the problem but for most people, simply following our common sense tips and hints for a good night’s sleep will make all the difference.”

These are The Sleep Council’s top 10 tips for a great night’s sleep:

  • Keep regular hours. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time, will programme your body to sleep better. Choose a time when you are most likely to feel sleepy.
  • Create a restful sleeping environment. Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep and it should be neither too hot, nor too cold; and as quiet and dark as possible.
  • Make sure your bed is comfortable.  It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep on one that’s too soft, too hard, too small or too old.
  • Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day’s stresses and strains. But not too close too bedtime or it may keep you awake!
  • Cut down on stimulants such as caffeine in tea or coffee – especially in the evening. They interfere with falling asleep and prevent deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.
  • Don’t over-indulge. Too much food or Alcohol, especially late at night, just before bedtime, can play havoc with sleep patterns.  Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night.
  • Don’t smoke. Yes, it’s bad for sleep, too: smokers take longer to fall asleep, wake more often and often experience more sleep disruption.
  • Try to relax before going to bed. Have a warm bath, listen to some quiet music, do some yoga – all help to relax both the mind and body. Your doctor may be able to recommend a helpful relaxation tape, too.
  • Deal with worries or a heavy workload by making lists of things to be tackled the next day.
  • If you can’t sleep, don’t lie there worrying about it. Get up and do something you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again – then go back to bed.
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A sleep starved state

Waking up in the middle of the night is a regular occurence for some, it’s even more disturbing when you can’t instantly drift back off but lay there for hours thinking about when you have to be up for work.

Sleep starved Brits are more likely to wake up at 3.44am than at any other time during the night, a study revealed.

Researchers found the typical Brit is woken twice a night by dripping taps, noisy neighbours, snoring, kicking partners and pawing pets.

The study also showed four in ten struggle to fall asleep, with the average Brit taking 46 minutes to nod off.

Worries about money and work were the most common culprits, whilst one sixth blamed eating late and caffeine.

The research into the sleeping habits of 3,000 Brits was commissioned by herbal sleep remedy, A.Vogel Dormeasan.

Dr Jen Tan, medical director of A.Vogel says: “It’s staggering how many people struggle to fall asleep and then when they finally do manage to drift off are woken by their surroundings or worries twice during the night.

“The research shows sleep is the first thing to bear the brunt of an overworked or hectic lifestyle and can have a huge impact on our energy levels and how we function the next day.”

Nearly half said they felt tired all day long as a result of their interrupted sleep and one in five admitted finding themselves nodding off during the day.

Dr Tan continues: “Many people rush hectically through their day and then collapse into bed without a period of calm to allow their adrenal glands to switch off. Without sleep the body struggles to repair and everyday tasks become harder.

“We’re then easily woken up by noises, a fidgety partner or feeling thirsty and it’s not helped by the fact we’re hitting the sack later than ever and staying up to watch TV or play computer games.

“This lack of decent shut-eye is causing millions of Brits to drop off at their desk the next day, be ineffective in meetings and lacking concentration.

“Most importantly, this research highlights the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.  Most of us need seven to eight hours sleep to function properly so when we fall short of this it’s easy to experience rising anxiety.”

More than a third said bad sleeping habits mean they lack of energy and four in ten say awaking in the night means they struggle to concentrate the next day.

But the typical Brit finds themselves catching an extra forty winks at 7.52pm while watching TV.

Sixty per cent admit that they stay up late to watch television and one in five say they go to bed later than they should to play computer games.

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Tips from the sleep council for a good nights rest

A cosy night spent watching telly in bed could be the answer to plummeting temperatures and soaring fuel bills.

According to The Sleep Council, beds are the perfect retreat on cold winter nights: and with more and more homes sporting a bedroom TV, an increasing number of us are cutting central heating costs by tucking up early in front of the telly.

Jessica Alexander, Sleep Council spokeswoman, says: “An awful lot of people are looking at ways to reduce their fuel bills this winter. Switching the central heating off a couple of hours earlier than normal could, by our rough calculations, save up to £150 a year on gas bills.”

Once it’s time for lights out, however, The Sleep Council emphasises the importance of turning off the television and any other distractions that can get in the way of a good night’s sleep.

And to stay warm as toast all night long, it offers the following tips:

· Wear night clothes such as pyjamas or a large T-shirt to keep you warm. Natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk will keep you warmer than synthetic materials.

· Have a warm bath just before you go to bed. This will warm you up and will also help to make you sleepy.

· Have a warming milky drink.

· Try to take some exercise during the day which will get the circulation going and help to keep the body warm.

It is also worth looking at the bedroom, the bed and the bedding, all of which play a part in keeping you insulated in the cold night air.

· Keep the bedroom warm, but not too hot, and free from draughts.

· Avoid a saggy bed. It may be nice to cuddle up for warmth but it can be very uncomfortable and clammy when you are thrown together by a bed that isn’t giving you the correct support.

· Look out for mattresses which have a warmer side for use during the winter. Use a fleecy underblanket to retain the heat.

· Wear bed socks – keeping your feet warm will help keep all of you warm.

· Choose a duvet with a high tog rating or use several layers of bedding rather than one single layer. Layers will trap warm air and are easily removed if you get too hot.

· A hot water bottle is an ideal way to keep warm once in bed. Make sure it has a cover on it to avoid scalding and also so that it won’t feel cold in the middle of the night.

· Electric blankets are ideal. Underblankets will warm the bed up before you retire for the night, while overblankets maintain a constant temperature throughout the night.

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Drinking cherry juice improves sleep

Drinking cherry juice can help you sleep an extra 25 minutes a night, a new study has found.

Researchers from the School of Life Sciences at Northumbria University have found that Montmorency cherry juice significantly increases the levels of melatonin in the body, the hormone which regulates sleep.

In the study, led by Dr Glyn Howatson, 20 healthy volunteers drank a 30ml serving of either tart cherry juice or a placebo juice twice a day for seven days.

The results show cherry juice can be a natural aid to those who have difficulty sleeping because of insomnia, shift work or jet lag, said study leader Dr Glyn Howatson.

‘Although melatonin is available over the counter in other countries, it is not freely available in the UK. What makes these findings exciting is that the melatonin contained in tart cherry juice is sufficient to elicit a healthy sleep response,’ added co-author Dr Jason Ellis.

‘What’s more, these results provide us with more evidence surrounding the relationship between how we sleep and what we consume.’

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Fighting the Signs of fatigue…

 

Following the news last week that British women are in the middle of fighting a fatiguer ‘epidemic’, these handy hints and tips from top Makeup artist Oonagh Connor give ladies hope to fight the signs of tiredness. (Full article here).

 

But no matter what cosmetics we use to cover up bags and weary eyes, there is one option that surpasses them all, even if ladies are reluctant to do it…

 

Have an early night!

 

1. When we’re tired, our skin appears washed out, pale and lacking lustre – to bring an instant glow, mix illuminator or an illuminating moisturiser into your foundation.

 

2. Bring some colour back to your cheeks by sweeping a blusher a shade brighter than your usual tone along your cheek bone.

 

3. Eyes are a big give-away to tiredness but luckily there’s a lot we can do in this area to brighten up our face – use eye creams to hydrate the area around the eyes.

 

4. To reduce puffiness around the eyes, place a spoon in the fridge to cool and then hold it over eye bags. An old wives tale!

 

5. To hide dark circles use concealer directly under the eyes.

 

6. For red eyes use flesh coloured eyeliner on the lower inside lash line.

 

7. Use neutral coloured eye shadows to help brighten the eyes.

 

8. Use eyelash curlers to open up the eyes. They can be heated or normal.

 

9. Use lengthening mascara to widen your eyes.

 

10. Never underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep. It is probably the best beauty secret I can share!

 

We need to consider our sleeping environment, making sure the temperature is right, and that we are sleeping on a comfortable bed. After all, the phrase ‘beauty sleep’ didn’t come from nowhere!

11. It’s vital that you drink plenty of water each day to keep your skin hydrated.

 

12. Eat a balanced to get the essential vitamins that will promote healthy skin, hair and nails.

 

13. The benefits of exercise are endless, but with a busy lifestyle it can be used to relieve stress, helping you to unwind.

 

Let us know how you fight the signs of tiredness?

 

Jen.xox

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Katie Price Sleeps With A Pig, and It’s Not Alex

Just when I thought Katie Price couldn’t make me feel any more nauseous she has gone and surpassed herself after admitting she lets her new pet pig sleep beside the bed she shares with new hubby Alex Reid, 34.

The singer has already given up pork after being given the miniature pig as a wedding present after saying: “Me and Alex ordered a Caesar salad the other day and it had bacon on and we were like, ‘Oh my God I can’t eat Bingles’.

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Obviously it’s true that pigs are actually really clean animals, but letting a farmyard creature share your bedroom is just a little bit weird in my eyes.

What do YOU make of it?

FemaleFirst – Ruth Harrison

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