Video Special: Bed Guru’s #ChooseSleep Campaign: For a Better Nights Sleep #AD

I’ve teamed up with Bed Guru, the online retailer and sleep specialists, to see if they can help me to get a better nights sleep by following their #ChooseSleep Guide.

Bed Guru are determined to help solve the sleep loss epidemic by raising awareness through their Choose Sleep campaign.

Bed Guru want to educate people about the important of sleep, and ways to help get the most from a good night’s shut eye.

I have been working with Bed Guru over the last four weeks bringing you weekly video diaries of my progress. I’ve never been the best sleeper. Although I drift off to sleep quite quickly, the problem I have is staying asleep throughout the night. I quite often wake up multiple times throughout the night, and then struggle to get back to sleep. This means I usually give up around 5.30/6am and get up, as I’m unable to go back to sleep. There’s no doubt about it, this irregular sleep pattern definitely impacts me throughout the day.

You can download Bed Guru’s guide online here. Why not give the challenge a go yourself and let me know how you get on?

What is The Choose Sleep Challenge?

Bed Guru are inviting participants sleep a full 8 hours every night for 30 nights so that we can experience the healing power of sleep, and return to our natural state of being.

Did you know that our species sleeps less today than at any point in our existence? A lack of sleep can lead to major diseases such as Alzheimers, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

In addition a whopping two-thirds of adults fail to meet the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night.

The Benefits of a Good Nights Sleep

• Healthier & less fatigued appearance
• Less hungry & more energetic
• Improved mental health
• Improved physical health
• Increased productivity

Preparing for the challenge

There’re 7 steps to prepare:

1. Go to bed at a similar time every day
2. Exercise daily, but not right before bed
3. Enjoy your caffeine early, not after 2pm
4. Avoid the night cap. Alcohol actually disrupts sleep
5. Keep your room dark and below 18 degrees
6. Ban electrical devices an hour before bed
7. Eat no later than a couple of hours before bed time

I am guilty of not doing a few of these. I tend to go bed at different times each night, I don’t exercise and I do drink a lot of caffeinated drinks, mainly tea. Although I don’t drink alcohol, I am often on my phone most of the evening, right up until I go to bed.

If you download the challenge online, there is a handy sleep diary you can download and fill in to monitor your progress.

The Results

View my full video diary below and results.

Week One

I started as I meant go one and followed the 7 steps listed above to prepare myself. I decided that I would go to bed at 10pm every night, cut down on caffeine. I have a habit of having a cup of tea right before bed. It’ll be a hard habit to break, but I hope in doing so my sleep will improve.

I also mad a rule of no screen time after 9pm. That meant putting my phone away and ignoring social media.

The first fews days, not much changed. I went to bed at 10pm every day, and I fell asleep pretty quickly, but as always I woke up numerous time throughout the night. However, towards the end of the first week, I found that I was waking up less and less. Slowly, I was starting to get more sleep.

Week Two

Still going strong on the no caffeine before bed and no screen time after 9pm. I’ve found cutting my nightly cup of tea out quite easy now. I don’t actually miss it, the same for reducing my screen time. My sleep is improving and a few nights this week, I’ve even managed to get a full 8 hour sleep!

Week Three

I don’t think I actually realised how much a lack of sleep was affecting me this week. I’ve actually managed to get a full 8 hours sleep more this week than last week. More importantly I feel more awake in the day, have more energy, and I’m in a better mood! 

Week Four

It’s the final week of the Bed Guru #ChooseSleepNow challenge and I’ve managed to get a full 8 hours sleep every night this week! I never thought that would ever be possible for me as I’ve alway had trouble sleeping, but completing this challenge has definitely helped show me that by making a few small changes to my bedtime routine, a good nights sleep is achievable.

If you struggle to sleep, why don’t you take on The Choose Sleep Challenge by Bed Guru?

This post was written in collaboration with Bed Guru.