Search icon

Health

02nd Sep 2014

Sweet Dreams! Five Top Tips for a Great Night’s Sleep

Already counting down the hours to bedtime?

Rebecca McKnight

Following the hilarious news that Chinese shoppers are flocking en masse to IKEA for naps, it’s fair to say the Swedish retailers know a thing or two about getting a good night’s kip. 

Now, they’re giving Irish shoppers the chance to win a bedroom makeover worth €2000.

To celebrate the launch of the 2015 IKEA Catalogue, IKEA Dublin will host a series of ‘well-being’ activities for the whole family on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September from 10am – 4pm each day. Interactive workshops, crafting and customisation, sewing tips and handy advice will be on offer all weekend, as IKEA’s experts show people how making just one small change in the bedroom or bathroom could make a big difference to their everyday.

Ahead of the event, Gillian Reilly, Communication & Interior Design Manager, IKEA Dublin says: “As hectic lifestyles take over, it is important to take time out and look after your well-being.”

If you’re feeling a little overworked and under-rested, IKEA have some top tips to help you on your way to dreamland.

  • A warm bath before bed relaxes your muscles and clears your head. You’ll find you fall asleep quicker, enjoy better quality sleep and a better day as a result of an evening soak.
  • Between 18 and 22 degrees is perfect for a night’s sleep. That’s why changing your duvet with the seasons will help you sleep better and wake up felling refreshed.
  • Light is a powerful instrument to regulate sleep cycle. You’ll get a much better night’s sleep if your room is in total darkness.
  • Eating a big meal late in the evening stimulates your body’s metabolism at the very time you need it to be slowing down. So for better sleep, try eating earlier and if you get hungry at bedtime, eat a banana. The source of magnesium and potassium help to relax muscles so you sleep better.
  • Lavender is known to slow down your heart rate, lower blood pressure and put you into a relaxed state. So keeping some next to your bed will give you quality sleep with less tossing and turning. And it’s nice to wake up in a room that smells lovely.