There are countless books and websites out there telling you how to sleep better. But I think a lot of people just want some good practical advice about how to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Essentially, it is up to the individual to find the way that works best for them. There are no golden rules for good sleep, but there are some guiding principles.
This is starting to look dangerously like a list of 10 rules for good sleep! So here is, in my mind, the single most important guiding principle.
To get good sleep, you need:
The quiet mind is the most important part: if your mind is active, stressed or worrying, you are unlikely to fall asleep. So anything that quietens the mind and relaxes the body will help you sleep. It does not matter what it is. So if camomile tea helps you, then by all means drink it. If yoga helps, then do it. If listening to thrash metal quietens your mind and relaxes your body, then listen to it.
Just remember that what works for one person will not necessarily work for another. You need to find out what’s right for you.
Dr. Neil Stanley
Dr Neil Stanley is an independent sleep expert who has been involved in research for over 35 years. After starting out at the R.A.F. Institute of Aviation Medicine, he moved on to the University of Surrey's Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit, where he was Director of Sleep Research. Today, he travels the world lecturing on various aspects of sleep to both healthcare professionals and the public at large.