“I don’t put off going to bed, more going to sleep,” says Shirley , 37, a researcher and administrator from South Wales. “I should go to sleep well before midnight to start work at 8 or 9 the following day. But I usually settle down into bed with the light off about 1am. My current sleep time is 3 or 4am.”
Much is written about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, having a consistent bedtime and setting a morning alarm. Science tells us regular sleep patterns lead to longer lives, lower our chance of developing Alzheimer’s, and, anecdotally, we know that it makes us feel better. So why do so many of us sabotage our sleep by staying up later than we should?
Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to see the other side of the bedroom [in the dark], said the Sleep Charity. Even when you’re sleeping, light can be detected through your eyelids, so we need darkness to stay fast asleep, the charity explained.
Making sure you own black-out curtains will be a great investment if your room is currently too bright.
Additional support material can include an eye mask to get the darkness your body needs.
The ideal temperature is between 16-18C (Image: Getty)
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In addition, cover any devices, such as an alarm clock, that might be emitting some type of light.