Your weekly dose of mental sunshine...

Did you sleep well last night?

I suppose a question like that depends on what you consider to be “sleeping well”...

Let me put it a different way:

What time did you go to bed?

I promise I’m not just being nosey!

This week’s dose of mental sunshine is all about getting an early night.

Sleep is really good for you - the more research that’s done, the more benefits we seem to find.

According to Professor Matt Walker’s bestselling book, Why We Sleep, every major disease in the developed world is linked to poor sleep - from Alzheimer’s to stroke.

So it’s important to get more good quality sleep.

But I’m not here to give you health tips;

I just want to give you something small you can do today to bring a little sunshine 🌞 (or should this be moonlight 🌛) into your life.

So I won’t tell you about the risks involved with poor sleep.

Instead, I’ll tell you why it’s a great idea to have an early night.

Firstly, in this world of busy, busy, busy getting an early night can feel incredibly luxurious.

Getting into bed an hour earlier than normal can feel like the ultimate act of self-care.

We all love a good box set, and streaming services these days can make it so easy to just watch the next episode, and the next, and the next.

And before you know it, it's 1 am in the morning.

When you’ve had a long day it can feel great to just slump in front of the TV and watch whatever is your latest favourite for several hours.

It doesn’t feel terribly rock n’ roll, however, switching off the screen (tv/phone/mobile device) and going to bed early to read a chapter or 2 of a book before you go to sleep can help you to feel amazing the next morning.

Reading also helps the mind slow down before bedtime.

And the next episode of your favourite box set will still be there waiting for you the next day.

So it’s a win-win all round!

I'm also reading about how the things you think about before you go to sleep affect how your next day will turn out.

So I aim to go to sleep every night thinking happy creative thoughts.

A chapter a night - Some of my bedtime reading...

One of the flip sides of getting an early night, is being able to get up early the next morning.

I set my alarm for 05.10 (which coincidently also happens to be my birthday 5th Oct)

I love getting up at this time while the rest of the house is still sleeping. I actually find it the most productive 2 hours of my day.

But more on that another week...

I'd love to hear what bedtime books you like to read?

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