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Plenty of us have been struggling with getting enough sleep during the pandemic, with the struggle even being given a new name – coronasomnia.
Heightened anxiety has resulted in many of us struggling to get to sleep, waking up in the night, and getting enough hours of deep sleep per week.
Dr Amir Khan appeared on Lorraine to give us his best tips for dealing with insomnia – and they’re not always what you might expect.
‘Google have said insomnia has been Googled more than ever before in the last year,’ he pointed out, adding that a good night’s sleep can help with everything from mental health to consolidating memories.
Dr Amir added that it’s just as important as a healthy diet and keeping fit and active, and provided some stellar top tips.
More: Coronavirus
Go to bed at the same time every night
Getting to sleep at the same time can help with a restful night (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It’s important that you listen to [your] body clock,’ the GP explained. ‘Go to bed at the same time every night, whether you’re tired or not.’
He added: ‘Over time, your body will get used to that sleep cycle again,’ and suggested aiming for six to eight hours in bed.
Make your bedroom as relaxing as possible
Dr Amir pointed out that your bedroom should be a relaxing space, which sometimes means rethinking what you have in there.
He specifically pointed out that, if you’ve got anything that reminds you of work in there, it should be taken to another room.
Make sure the temperature is right
The temperature in your bedroom should not be too hot (Picture: Getty)
The temperature for getting a good night’s sleep is actually lower than you might imagine, with Dr Amir suggesting about 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.
Any warmer might cause a restless night’s sleep, while colder will make it difficult for you to get to sleep.
Have a warm drink or bath/shower
Dr Amir pointed out that a warm milky drink actually does help to relax you.
Also, having a warm bath or shower a couple of hours before you go to bed can help.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
You should avoid alcohol right before going to sleep (Picture: Getty Images)
Avoiding caffeine is a well-known top tip, with Dr Amir saying that you shouldn’t have any two to three hours before going to bed.
While nicotine can feel to relax you, it’s actually a stimulant so should also be avoided.
Also, while alcohol is a sedative, it will result in a restless night’s sleep.
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.
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