8 Weird Tips To Help You Fall Asleep

Whatever position you lie in, however you prepare for bed, you may feel absolutely exhausted but you still can't make that transition to sleep.

Every now and then, regardless of how good our mattresses might be, we all have nights when we just can't find the key to the door of the Garden of Nod. Sometimes the stars simply aren't in alignment and it's just not happening for you.

While surfing the web for inspirations on a sleep theme we came across these 8 wonderful "Weird Sleep Tips" on the WonderHowTo website, with gorgeous, quirky illustrations by Yumi Sakugawa.

8 Weird Sleep Tips:

• Curl your toes
• Drink some cherry juice
• Programme your mind with a sleep ritual
• Chronologically retrace your day's activities
• Listen to white noise
• Listen to sleep hypnosis podcasts
• Rub your belly
• Block out all light and sound.

And the Sensible Sleep Tips?

• Avoid alcohol or caffeine before bed
• Establish a regular sleeping/waking time
• Exercise regularly

...and of course, to give yourself the best chance of good sleep you also have to make sure the conditions are right, which means making sure you have the very best mattress you can afford.

Choosing the best mattress

This means choosing one which supports your body in a way that keeps the core of your spine and neck in perfect alignment (forget the stars being in alignment, it's your back you need to think about!). It also means making sure you're not too hot when you sleep.

Many people complain that memory foam can be very hot, so it's important you look for cooling properties, for example the breathable foam springs found in our Octaspring range (which, incidentally are bodyzoned to give your whole body the exact support you need.

The other key point is to make sure your mattress isn't past its best, particularly with traditional old metal springs digging into your body; or being a trigger for allergens and a comfy home to dustmites thanks to its age. Here is a handy checklist of signs that your mattress is due for a change.