Thursday, 16 October 2025

Clean Sleep

I heard a bloke on th3 radio talking about "sleep hygiene" which sounded like an instruction to wash your hands before bedtime. But it actually means developing good habits, arranging your bedroom, for an optimal night's sleep. I got a book from the library but it involved buying the author's products. Huh! I returned the book promptly. Then I saw a hand lettered graphic online [cannot find it again, sorry] it SAID
HEAL THY SLEEP HABITS
At first I thought it was an Old Testament command, then realised the spacing was bad!
HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS 
makes much more sense.
I read various articles, and I've made just three significant changes
  1. No screens after 10pm. I don't watch the 10pm news, I don't check Facebook or emails or WhatsApp [or blogs and blog-comments]
  2. Last drink of the day is water, or milk not tea 
  3. I wear a blackout sleep mask
And after just two weeks, I really am sleeping better. The My Halos mask cost £10, but it's so comfortable. It comes with a neat storage case. The padded foam inside lifts it away from my eyes, so no pressure on eyelids or tickling lashes. And the memory foam fits round my nose, so it is total blackout. 
In fact the first night I put it on, and snuggled down to sleep, oblivious to the fact that I'd forgotten to switch off my bedside light!

We sleep on the ground floor [it's a bungalow] at the front of the property. Although we have efficient curtains, sometimes a vehicle with headlights, turning round at the end of the Close, can shine a flash of light into the room. With the mask on I'm not disturbed. 
I'm making fewer 3am trips to the loo too. And if I do wake up, I fall back to sleep faster.
Poor sleep affects weight-regulation hormones [hence many new mums struggle to lose "baby weight"] i am hoping better sleep will help with that. 
What are your most successful sleep tips?
🛌💤💤💤




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25 comments:

  1. KirstenM16 October 2025 at 07:17

    I stopped getting uptight about being awake in the middle of the night when I learned that historically people used to get up around soon after midnight and go for a walk, have a snack, whatever. So now just put on a suitable audio book or radio program, set the timer for 10 mins and listen through soft headband earphones. I'm usually asleep before the timer reaches the end.

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  2. wherethejourneytakesme216 October 2025 at 07:55

    I have to have the room pitch black to sleep so we just have ordinary clocks that are not lit up and a black out blind at upstairs windows. I have to have my mobile in the room in case my mum needs to ring someone in the night but I put it under my bed face down, I don't look at it or it would keep me awake. I heard from some podcast that when children miss that point of being tired then hormones like adrenalin and cortisol are released to keep the body awake ...hence the term second wind. I presume it applies to adults too. I believe going to bed at same time is good too and 9 or 10pm is a good time and keeping all your lights down low both in brilliance and physically low down as the evening progresses even the tv screen...so havi g tv wall mounted is not good either. Some fascinating research going on at the moment. Sleep well.

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  3. Kezzie16 October 2025 at 08:15

    I'm definitely not sleeping well at the moment and haven't been for almost a year now! I just wake up anxious and don't get back to sleep. I do need to regulate what time I'm going and avoid screens though too!
    So glad your sleep is improving!

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    1. Angela16 October 2025 at 10:03

      The screen thing has really made a difference. And the mask helps with night time waking

      Delete
  4. Anonymous16 October 2025 at 08:22

    Thanks for the sleep tips as I am having a spell of not great sleep just now. I might try one of the masks as we live on a busy road with lights shining even through the heavy blackout curtains. I like a warm bath before bed and then a bit of reading. Norrie is currently painting the bedroom a very pale green and hopefully the calming shade will help as I settle at the end of the day. Sweet dreams. Catriona

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    1. Angela16 October 2025 at 10:03

      Do try a mask. Paying a bit extra for this Halos one was worth it!

      Delete
  5. Boud16 October 2025 at 13:24

    I go to sleep with a dull podcast playing. Just drift off nicely. I find wearing socks makes a big difference, for some reason. But I've never had trouble sleeping, except when I, rarely, wake in the early (3am) morning, then I read or something till sleep returns.

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    1. Angela16 October 2025 at 14:12

      Cold feet keep me awake, so bedsock, hot water bottles or an electric blanket are all good remedies

      Delete
  6. Sue16 October 2025 at 16:55

    I think I am better placed to give you all the tips on how not to have better sleep.
    Don't have that final cup of coffee at 10pm no matter how much you are craving it, you just know you will be up at 2am for a loo-run. Don't accidently tick the box for 'thermal' curtains when you meant to tick the box for 'blackout' curtains. And ... don't alter the length measurement on the curtains order, thinking that you did it wrong the first time ... now I can lie in bed at night looking at the light coming in under and over the curtains for the position of the moon, and/or daylight and try and work out what time it is.

    I need to do better, maybe I'll try a sleep mask.

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    1. Angela16 October 2025 at 17:15

      Definitely.🤣🤣🤣 The sleep mask will cost way less than new curtains! 🛌💤💤💤

      Delete
  7. Anonymous16 October 2025 at 20:33

    Thanks for the great tip about masks, I've been getting disturbed at night by an led light on a mirror in our en suite, husband doesn't like to shut the door because said light helps him find the loo in the middle of the night - I already use nasal strips to aid breathing and a mouth guard to stop teeth grinding - with an eye mask it'll complete the alien look but at least I'll sleep 😀
    Alison in Devon x

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    1. Angela16 October 2025 at 21:19

      Bob used nasal strips for a while, and wore a cpap mask when he had sleep apnoea. That was like sleeping with Darth Vader! I understand about a light to the loo (we have a motion activated one) I hope you find a mask useful - but do get a proper blackout one.

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  8. Bushlady16 October 2025 at 21:38

    Bed socks are vital. I try to establish a cut off screen time and then forget and carry on. We don't have clocks that light up unless made to do so. However, the carbon monoxide monitor in our bedroom shows light. Biggest problem is the times when DH is snoring or even just making clicking noises with his mouth open! I know I could go into another room but we've been married 55 years!

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  9. Terra17 October 2025 at 00:39

    A good night's sleep is so precious and restorative. The brain in deep sleep cleanses itself which is important. The sleep mask you show sounds intriguing. I keep the bedroom very dark, wear a sleep mask, read the Bible right before sleeping.

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    1. Angela17 October 2025 at 08:12

      A bible reading and or a prayer is a good way to end the day

      Delete
  10. Bless17 October 2025 at 02:16

    I'm glad you found a way to get a good night's sleep. I have always been a bit of a night owl, myself, which made it hard to get up early to go to work. But, now, I'm retired and it doesn't bother me what time I go to sleep and wake up. I just make sure to schedule my appointments for the afternoon. I do sleep with a night light on because I don't like a dark bedroom.

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