Sleep.
Part of me has forgotten what it feels like to get a good night’s sleep. I might crawl into bed beside Craigy at 11pm, but odds are that I’ll be up again in the night. In fact, most nights you’ll find me frantically stripping Dexter’s Buzz Lightyear bedsheets at 3am as an imaginary friend has persuaded him it’s the done thing to peel off his nappy and sleep commando. If it’s not Dex, I’ll be feeding an impatient Heidi who will then flat-out refuse to drop off until she’s relieved her tummy of every last drop - through a variety of means…
I also struggle to switch my mind off at night. I’m usually working on the blog throughout the early evening, or scouring Twitter for leads. Even in bed I’ll have the Kindle Fire burning brightly beside me whilst I check out what my friends are gloating / complaining about on Facebook. I know I should ban devices from the bedroom but this is my incredibly lame attempt at keeping some form of social life alive.
It’s no wonder that the pursuit of the holy grail that is sleep consumes my every waking minute. I’m often shattered and have to grab a nap throughout the day. With two young children though, this is not advised. Yesterday, I dozed on the sofa and awoke to a grinning face full of Sudocrem as Dexter decided to decorate himself. You can’t take your eyes off him for one minute - here’s the evidence… 
Whilst browsing a bit of bedding porn last night (get your mind out of the gutter, I was looking at duvet sets) I noticed that bedroom furniture and linen specialists Feather & Black had commissioned a sleep survey. Over 1000 people had responded to 15 probing questions about sleep habits and what keeps them up each night. The results had been popped into a free eBook called “How to Sleep Better” downloadable from the website.
Let’s just say, I didn’t need any further encouragement.
It’s rammed full of useful insights about how us Brits are neglecting our sleep and have adopted all manner of naughty habits that affect our ability to switch off.
“Proportionately more people in the North West state stress is affecting their ability to nod off, whereas people in the South West take an average of two hours to fall asleep”
The eBook then aims to unpack these problems and offer practical advice on
- Managing your children’s bedtime routines
- The optimal hours of sleep per night.and how to get them
- Essential oils to soothe body and mind
- How to create the right bedroom environment
- How to manage your social habits before bedtime
“The blue light emanating from mobile devices has been found to interfere with the brain’s processing of melatonin - the hormone which helps to regulate sleep and wake cycles”
There’s also tons of gorgeous imagery and Feather & Black bedroom decor suggestions for adults and children. I’ve fallen in love with this Alien bedset which is just too cute for words!
To find out more and get your mitts on a copy of the e-book, head on over to Feather & Black and submit your details. It’s entirely free and might just help you achieve an extra few hours sleep tonight.
If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, check out their website at FeatherandBlack.com, or hop on over to Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.
