Unfortunately, studies have shown that sleeping in for an extra 1-2 hours during the weekend does not actually catch up on sleep lost during the week, in fact you'll be caught behind.. The main reason that this fails is linked to something called sleep debt. As we miss hours throughout the week, they add up, meaning that by the weekend totalling around eight hours of missed sleep, that’s four hours extra for both Saturday and Sunday! Even if you do achieve sleeping for those extra hours, your whole sleep schedule has been completely thrown off, meaning that you’re more likely to struggle to head to bed on Sunday evening… It’s definitely an endless cycle…
The best way to clean up any sleep debt acquired during the week is to start slow and steady. Even heading to bed around 10-15 mins earlier each night can make a real difference and will mean that you’ll have no sleep debt come the weekend! Struggle to head to bed at an earlier time?
Heading to bed earlier can be achieved through a variety of activities, from a hot bath through to self care, lavender pillow spray and reading a book.
It’s also super important to keep your sleep environment clean, tidy and fresh. Leaving the window open at night can have a cooling affect on your body which can naturally encourage sleep whilst there are plenty of apps out there that you can try in order to encourage sleep at an easier time.
Cracking a sleep schedule is the most affective way to avoid sleep debt and the best way to create a sleep routine!
Although this might not be brilliant to hear, if you end up with a lot of sleep debt come the weekend, it’s probably best to still get up at the usual time on both Saturday and Sunday. Waking up as usual will mean that you’ll head to bed at an early time come the end of the weekend due to natural tiredness!
Sleep can definitely seem like a mystery at times. Despite it being a common, everyday activity in our lives, we are all still trying to work out why we sleep, what sleep actually is, and which factors determine or affect our rest. Along with all the speculation appear plenty of sleep myths, some of which can be both misleading and even detrimental to health. Take a look below to see some sleep myths debunked once and for all.
Read moreIf you’re either struggling with your sleep patterns or feeling low, then there could be a brilliant activity to partake in to get you feeling yourself once more. Regular exercise has been proven to boost mood, increase energy levels and improve quality of sleep come the evening time. Just twenty minutes each day can aid your health and your rest massively – and a better sleep means a better you.
Read moreLife is all about balance. Despite this, equilibrium can sometimes fall by the wayside as we wade through our busy lives. Stress, lack of sleep and anxiety are all too common emotions of the modern day. To fight this tension; follow this quick, handy guide on how to maintain balance and harmony in your life.
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