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Banishing gadgets from the bedroom, swerving caffeine before bedtime and reading rather than watching TV are all proven ways to help get a good night's slumber, but now experts say letting your pet sleep with you is another way to have a peaceful rest.
The Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, previously claimed that half of its patients who complained of poor sleep were pet owners who were woken up by their animals. However the institution has re-evaluated its findings, with the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic finding that owners who sleep with their pets in fact feel more safe and secure.
'A pet owner's desire to have animals close at night is understandable'
The research involved 150 participants, who were surveyed on their sleep habits and pets. It was found that 56 per cent of pet owners allowed their furry friend to sleep with them. Only 20 per cent were disturbed by the animal as they slept and 41 per cent said having their pets in bed with them helped them sleep better, as they felt more relaxed and secure.
"Many pet owners view companion animals as family members that they wish to incorporate into as many aspects of their life as possible," researchers noted. "Because humans spend considerable time sleeping, a pet owner's desire to have animals close at night is understandable.
"As more households include multiple pets, the challenge of securing appropriate sleeping arrangements is increased."
If you're pet free there are plenty of other ways to make sure you are getting enough rest.
Wind down
Take time to allow your body to shift into its sleeping mode. Playing on your phone or working late is not the recipe for a great night's sleep, so lying in bed looking at the ceiling is a high possibility. Spend the last hour before bed relaxing, whether that's in the bath or reading a book under the covers. The blue light in electronic devices is known to keep the brain active, so if you're catching up on TV do it on an actual television rather than a tablet or phone.
Cool things down
The cold weather will set in more as the season progresses further into winter, so no doubt your central heating is currently on high. Make sure you turn it right down when you snooze though, aiming for a room temperature of between 60 and 67 degrees F. Just like longing for the cool side of the pillow is an instant night time relaxer, sleeping in a cooler temp has also proved to have a host of health benefits like lessening your risk of metabolic disease.
Invest in a good bed and mattress
Some things in life you can afford to scrimp on, and others you can't. The benefits of a good bed/mattress are endless, aiding everything from a sound sleep to helping a bad back. The cream of the mattress crop has to be the DUX bed, with its sole aim to create the world's most comfortable base. The bed is result of advanced sleep research and technology, and uses the very best in spring design. Thousands of interconnected coils made from quality steel are used, providing the sleeper with an even distribution of pressure, deep suspension by absorbing the body's weight and support for all the body's contours.
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