How do I fall back to sleep? If you have trouble, make sure you AVOID doing these two things
FEELING tired? There's nothing more frustrating than waking in the middle of the night – but is there an easier way to drift back to sleep?
A sleep doctor has revealed the two things you should NEVER do if you wake in the middle of the night. Here's what you should know...
What should I avoid doing if I wake in the middle of the night?
Most people nervously check their phone, seeing how close they are to having to get up for the day.
Meanwhile others head to the bathroom or go to get a drink of water.
But these are both big no-nos according to sleep expert Dr Michael Breus, author of The Power of When.
You snooze you loo-se
Need the loo? Dr Michael told that you should stay exactly when you are.
Even though you may be tempted to empty your bladder, the trick is to stay snug in your bed.
If you leave the warmth, your heart has to pump more blood around the body.
A low resting heart rate is needed to fall asleep, which is harder to achieve if you are moving around.
Time for bed?
It is also tempting to roll over and check the time when you wake up, but this isn't always the best idea.
The anticipation of the alarm going off can ruin many people's sleeps.
Dr Michael said to avoid checking your phone at all costs, as the anxiety of watching the clock can keep you awake longer.
We previously wrote about US sleep expert Dr Andrew Weil, who created the 4-7-8 breathing trick that can help you fall asleep in less than a minute.
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It helps to calm the mind and relax the muscles and Dr Weil’s breathing exercise has been viewed almost 1.5million times on Youtube.
The technique works by allowing your body to take on more oxygen, relaxing the nervous system and promoting a state of calm.
It also helps to re-balance the nervous system – which can often become over stimulated whenever you’re feeling stressed.