Presentation of Dr Neil Stanley

For the last 35 years, I have been involved in sleep research and sleep medicine. During that time, I have contributed to numerous scientific publications. But if I am going to give you advice about sleep, you deserve a chance to see if I actually practice what I preach. With that in mind, here is a brief description of my own sleep environment and habits:

• I sleep in a 6ft (Super King) Vispring Herald Supreme bed.
• The bed is dressed with pure wool, long, continental single duvets and pure cotton bed linen.
• I use 2 down and feather pillows.
• The windows of the bedroom are covered with heavy curtains.
• I always sleep with a window open.
• I do not have a TV, computer, radio in my bedroom.
• I always read before lights out.
• I am very much a morning person so if I wake up early I will get up.
• If I wake in the middle of the night I will unusually switch the bedside light on and read for anything up to 20-60 minutes.
• I need a 9-9½ hours sleep a night.
• I have a pretty regular routine when I am at home in that I usually go to be at approx 2100-2130 and awake and get up at approx 0600-0630, even at the weekends.
• I do snore which is probably related to carrying a bit more weight then perhaps I should.
• I do not exercise in the evening or eat too late at night.
• I do not avoid caffeine or moderate alcohol in the evening.
• I have paper and pen next to my bed to write down worries/thoughts that occur to me during the night.
• As a child I did not have any particular sleep problems.