September is here, which means Sleeptember is too.

Sleeptember is a Sleep Council initiative running throughout September that aims to remind everyone about the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

We all need good quality sleep to feel our best, but more and more of us are suffering from poor sleep and fatigue, and this can affect mood, concentration and alertness levels.

So, if you’re a poor sleeper, then why not set yourselves the challenge of changing your habits for the whole month of September?

Below are five simple steps from The Sleep Council, which you can take to help improve your sleep this month:

Create the ideal sleep environment

You need the right environment to get a good night’s sleep and that means a bedroom that’s cool, quiet and dark. Fit black- out blinds to block out light and open your window regularly to let in plenty of cool fresh air. If it’s noise you can’t control that’s bothering you, try ear plugs to help block it out.

Get rid of the gadgets

Smart phones, laptops, TVs, radios and games consoles all have a significant effect on our sleeping habits, making it difficult to switch off and wind down.  Exposure to even the weakest glow at night – like the notification light flashing on your mobile next to your bed – can unconsciously play havoc with your body’s circadian rhythms, keeping you alert when you should be sleepy.

Invest in a new bed

It’s the foundation of good sleep. Research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour’s sleep – yet the deterioration may be so gradual and invisible you don’t make the connection. Think about replacing your bed and mattress every seven years. To celebrate Sleeptember, we’re offering 10% off all our mattresses - just enter SLEEPTEMBER at checkout.

Routine

Try to stick to regular bedtime hours – going to bed and getting up at roughly the same every day helps to program the body to sleep better. Plus your body will love you for it.

Wind down

Try to learn to relax before bedtime. Meditation is a great tool for relaxing both body and mind, as is having a warm bath or listening to some quiet music. And if you do start to worry when you get into bed, write down what’s niggling you and then make a conscious effort to forget about it until morning.