Five Tips for a Better Nights Sleep

Struggling with your sleep? You’re not alone. It’s estimated that around a third of us Kiwis aren’t getting enough shut-eye. 

Registered nutritionist and wellbeing expert Claire Turnbull says that inadequate sleep quantity, as well as poor quality sleep, can affect almost every aspect of our lives. 

Sleep impacts everything from our ability to concentrate and drive safely to how well our immune system functions and our ability to regulate our appetite and our mood.

Here are Turnbull’s top tips for a better night’s sleep:

1. Aim to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even at the weekend. It is much easier to sleep when your body is in a consistent routine.
2. Try to be exposed to natural daylight within the first hour of waking and regularly throughout the day. Without adequate natural light at the right time, your brain can struggle with the daytime versus night-time message, which can have an impact on your ability to sleep. Aim for dim lights at night and, as always, manage your use of devices.
3. Opt for an earlier dinner and break the night-time nibbling habit – it is not ideal to go to bed with a full stomach.
4. Create a wind-down practice before bed that’s not watching TV or scrolling on your phone. Reading is great, or try a shower or bath to relax. 
5. Watch your drinks. Keep any caffeine to the earlier part of the day and be mindful that while alcohol may help you fall asleep, it can affect the quality of your sleep and make you more likely to wake up during the night.