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Health & Fitness
Sweet Dreams
| Q | The closer I get to my wedding, the harder I find it to fall asleep in the evening – what can I do to calm my racing mind? |
| A | Demelza Rayner says: Good sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and has a positive impact on every aspect of our lives including relationships, eating habits and stress levels. If you're finding it hard to drift off, the three strategies below could help: 1) Pre-bed journaling is the practice of writing down any anxious thoughts that can stop us from falling asleep and staying asleep. It need only take a couple of minutes, but noting down anything that you're worried about, or that you need to remember for the following day(s) can really help to switch the body out of its stressed state, leaving you feeling calm and in control. 2) Make sure you drink any caffeinated drinks before midday. Caffeine can stay in your system for many hours after you drink it and can not only make it difficult to drop off in the evening, but may also reduce the amount of deep sleep that you enjoy. 3) Minimise refined carbohydrates such as white breads and white pasta, as well as high sugar, high fat snacks, instead focusing on meals comprising lean protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. This will keep you fuller for longer, will stabilise your blood sugar levels and, in turn, will have a positive impact on falling asleep and staying asleep. Sweet dreams! |
Demelza Rayner, Demelza Rayner Nutrition
