Sleep well
Do the changes in temperature and daylight hours that winter brings affect your sleep? Dr Guy Meadows, co-founder and clinical lead of Sleep School, shares how to get your best sleep this season...
• Manage light exposure. Natural or artificial light can wake us, as it stops the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and activates the release of cortisol (the waking hormone). Keep your room as dark as possible, or try using an eye mask.
• Manage temperature. We sleep better in a cooler environment, with the ideal bedroom temperature 16–17˚C, so switch off the central heating and use a high-tog winter duvet instead. Or try a combination of blankets, to regulate temperature.
• Gently ease your body into the clock change by going to bed
