8 common things you should never do when you're trying to get a good sleep, according to an expert — and what to do instead
Sleep is something we are too willing to compromise on.
Poor sleep can be bad for our physical health and our minds.
Sometimes the things we try to do to get a better night's sleep aren't actually helping us.
Here are some of the mistakes we are making and how to rectify them.
Poor sleep makes us miserable. Not only that, but research has shown that if we don't get enough sleep, it can be bad for our mental health, result in poor performance and concentration, and in the long term can increase our risk of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
But no matter how many times we are told about the risks of not sleeping enough, it's still something too many of us compromise on.
New research from Debut — a student careers app — looked at the sleeping habits of 1,331 UK-based 18 to 25-year-old university students. It found that 74% of them admitted to often forfeiting sleep to make time for study, completing assignments, or revising for exams.
The study found that some of the tricks the students used to try and get a better night's sleep were actually not helping them that much — and while exams and late-night studying stop for most people after university, some of these habits apply to all of us.
Sleep scientist Stephanie Romiszewski, Channel 4’s resident sleep expert and the owner of the Sleepyhead Clinic, looked at what the students were doing, and made some recommendations on how they could improve their sleep patterns.
Here are some of the mistakes you might be making, and how to rectify them.
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SEE ALSO: Poor sleep can ramp up our insecurities — here's how treating insomnia can help with mental health
