Tomorrow - 13 March - is World Sleep Day. Here are some unusual sleep tips and why they might help for those nights when you might be struggling to drift off! Plus, there's the chance to enter a prize draw for a sunrise alarm clock!
Sleep problems are common and struggling to sleep every now and again is normal. If it starts to become an issue and impact your daily life, please check the NHS website for more information and support.
The Spectrum.Life app also has lots of useful sleep resources such as a virtual 'Zone out Yoga for better sleep' series. Find out more about the app and download it here.
Unusual sleep tips for when you can't drift off
- Put your feet outside the duvet or blanket WHY: it helps to cool you down which signals to your body that it is safe to sleep
- Rub your earlobes for 2 minutes WHY: this stimulates vagus nerve which helps to activate your parasympathetic system, promoting relaxation
- Read something dull WHY: this can lead to a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol and provide a distraction from anxiety
- Pretend you're melting into the bed WHY: this is a form of mental self-soothing through guided imagery that can help with emotional regulation
- Have a cold head and warm feet - try sleeping with a fan or an open window and have a hot water bottle at your feet WHY: this initiates the body's thermoregulation process, signalling to the brain that it is time to rest
- Blink fast for 60 seconds WHY: this mimics the body's natural pre-sleep signals and cues the nervous system to slow down
- Tell yourself that you are going to stay awake WHY: this reverse psychology removes the pressure of sleep
- Replay a boring memory like supermarket shopping or walking through an airport WHY: this occupies your mind without stimulating it
- Choose a letter of the alphabet and focus on random objects that start with it WHY: this disrupts your mind, mimicking the pre-sleep brain state
Want to win a sunrise alarm clock?
Prize draw details are in your Student Update. Check your email inbox to find your Student Update!