MY NEW YEAR’S RESTOLUTIONS FOR 2022

*This post is in conjunction with TEMPUR® but all thoughts are my own.

Are you ready to say goodbye to 2021? It’s without a doubt been another challenging year for most of us. Two years of a global pandemic is no joke, although this year hasn’t been all doom and gloom. 2021 has brought some positive changes to my life that I would have never anticipated. We bought our dream family home and I’ve taken on a new professional challenge. We’ve also had to deal with lots of uncertainty and illnesses in our extended family, so mentally I feel the past year has taken its toll and I am happy and ready for 2021 to be truly over. I do feel hopeful and excited for the future. I think it’s really important to stay positive and look at the New Year as a new opportunity, a new chapter if you like.

Now I don’t always make New Year’s resolutions, but I’m going to make an exception this year. It’s been a really tough ride and I know that I need to make some small changes to my life to make sure that I have the energy and enthusiasm for what’s to come. I have found the past year stressful and the stress has had a negative impact on my sleep pattern. I’ve never been a great sleeper but I feel like it’s finally the right time to do something about it. So, if there’s one thing I’d like to do more in 2022 that is to sleep more and also have better quality sleep.

Here are my 7 New Year’s Restolutions that will hopefully help me sleep my way to a more relaxing and energetic new year.

1. F I N I S H  O U R  B E D R O O M  M A K E – O V E R

I’ve been postponing our bedroom make-over for many reasons, but the truth is I should have prioritised it when we moved in. Having a relaxing, clutter-free environment to sleep in is so important. We bought a new bed and some new furniture but all the major works still need doing (new flooring, painting, new wallpaper, etc). I also want to get proper curtains to block all the light. I just don’t feel like our bedroom is my sleep sanctuary yet and it will make a big difference when we do get to that point. But we’ve made progress and I know having a relaxing environment to sleep in will make all the difference.

2. I N V E S T  I N  G O O D  Q U A L I T Y  B E D D I N G

I suffer from neck pain, so it’s super important that I have good bedding, especially a supportive mattress and pillow when sleeping. Annoyingly I find that most regular pillows flatten very quickly and I have to keep turning them while sleeping. Luckily TEMPUR®  asked me to take part in their New Year’s campaign and test one of their comfort pillows. I’ve tested quite a few pillows before but nothing like this. The patented TEMPUR®  envelop contains thousands of micro cushions. The removable cover is washable at 40 degrees (although I’ve also washed it at 60 degrees and it was fine). I wasn’t sure if I’d like the pillow as it’s medium-firm (I usually go for soft) but it has been incredibly comfortable from day one.  It feels like you’re falling asleep on a cloud. The weight is distributed evenly which means you’ll get a comfortable night’s sleep. There is much less tossing and turning involved as the pillow doesn’t lose its shape. Memory foam is definitely the key to a good night’s sleep and choosing the right mattress material will ensure you get the right comfort and support. We spend one-third of our life in bed, so a good mattress and pillow are the least you can do right?

3. L E S S   S C R E E N – T I M E

This is something that I really struggle with. I often find myself working late or catching up with emails. I know it’s bad for my sleep and I regularly try to avoid it. Light from electronic screens can fool your brain thinking that it’s daytime and disrupt your winding down process. If you need to look at screens before going to bed make sure that your display settings are set to night. But it’s never a great idea to scroll your phone just before going to bed as it can stimulate your brain and make it even harder to fall asleep (trust me, I would know). So I’m going to try to put all my electronic devices away and grab a book instead.

4. E X E R C I S E  M O R E

I find that I sleep better if I’ve physically pushed myself during the day. It can be anything from a long walk to a HIIT session, but the most important thing is to make sure you’re not  working out too late at night. The adrenaline from exercising can be counterproductive and it can have the opposite effect. I often exercise too late, which I need to work on. I will aim not to exercise after 8.30 PM.  Yoga and Pilates are probably fine though. I’d just personally avoid anything that will get your heart pumping too much.

5. W O R R Y  L E S S/ M E D I T A T E

It’s natural to worry about things (especially now). I find that I simply don’t have enough hours in the day to do everything and often take my to-do list in bed with me. Meditating before going to bed can help you unwind and reset for the night. I downloaded the Calm app and I’ve been using it three times a week now. It really does help. Ideally, I’d like to use it every night. I’m not quite there yet but I fully plan to use it more religiously once I get my sleep routine sorted.

6. D I E T

Certain food groups simply don’t aid in getting a good night’s sleep. Caffeine is one of my biggest vices. I drink way too many cups a day but it’s the evening cup of coffee that can keep me awake for hours. So, I will try not to drink coffee after 4 PM. Don’t forget that caffeine can be found in many other drinks as well, like green tea and Coca-Cola. I’ll also try to eat more protein and vegetables before going to bed. Avoiding refined sugar helps too.

7. N I G H T – T I M E  R O U T I N E

A proper night-time routine can help you to unwind and fall asleep faster. I’ve never had a proper routine though, one that I would stick to anyway. I think it’s all about creating a sleep schedule that you can maintain. I’ll try to spend my evenings doing things that relax me. I love having a bath during the winter months and it always leaves me super rejuvenated and calm. Although I’d like a good sleep routine, I don’t want to stress about it too much.

Will you be making any New Year’s Restolutions this year?