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But research suggests a few extra hours of shut-eye might be the right way to spend a winter evening.
Dr Lees first recommendation?
More sleep, perhaps even two and a half extra hours in bed.
Why might more sleep in winter be beneficial?
“We tend to exercise less outdoors when its cold, says Dr Lee.
Exercise stimulates the immune system.
Not exercising can make you feel sluggish, under the weather and tired.
And it isnt just our exercise habits that take a hit over winter.
“We tend to eat less fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter, Dr Lee explains.
We feel cold and tend to crave comfort foods which are often high-carb and high fat.
The spikes and falls in blood sugar levels can make us feel fatigued.
And, unfortunately, these carb-heavy and rich comfort dishes aren’t part of ahealthy diet for better sleep.
Below are some tips on improving your sleep habits, even in the very bleak midwinter.
Our body temperature naturally falls by one or two degrees in the hours leading up to sleep.
This temperature drop signals to the brain and body that its time to wind down.
“The optimum bedroom temperature for sleep is 18.3 degrees Celsius.”
Choose pajamas made from breathable natural materials, such as cotton, instead of synthetics.
Dr Lee also recommends a somewhat controversial sleep wear option: socks to bed.
Dr Lee also has some tips for maintaining good sleephygienein winter.
“Wind down for sleep, no blue light devices within 2 hours of bedtime.
Have a warm bath or shower.
Dim the lights, says Lee.
Not sure where to get started?
We have some tips onhow to create a bedtime routine.
One way to counteract this is with the use of a sunrise alarm clock.
Gradually introducing light helps your brain to slowly wake up when its still dark outside.
Its also important to try and get some natural light into your routine.
But if youre struggling to sleep consistently in winter, check out theCult Beauty sleep aids.
Her areas of special interest include, sleep, diet, weight loss and nutrition.
Dr Lee is a medical content writer for Dr Fox (Dr Fox Online Pharmacy).
