Hibernation season is here and as the temptation to burrow under the duvet morning, noon and night increases, there are a few things that we tend to add to our sleep routines to keep us warm. Of course, we want to be as cosy as possible when we sleep, especially during the winter, but there are certainly some actions we should avoid doing.

Six Mistakes To Avoid With Your Winter Sleep Routine

Mattressman has compiled a list of things that you may want to avoid if you want the best sleep possible this winter.

Oversleep at weekends

After a long week and five days of early starts, it’s very easy to want to spend the weekend curled up in bed – or at the very least, enjoy a long lie-in – but sleeping in much later than you’re used to can be disruptive to your sleep cycle. Keep to your normal routine as much as you can to make the most of those short winter days and to protect your sleep.

Keeping the cold out

We may sound a little counterproductive with this one, particularly as most of us want to stay as warm as possible when winter sets in, but keeping fresh air circulating in our bedrooms is proven to be a good idea. This will keep your room at the perfect temperature for sleep and will also prevent those pesky winter viruses from spreading.

Six Mistakes To Avoid With Your Winter Sleep Routine

Stick with your summer duvet

Now the cold weather is here, you’ll probably want to transition to a heavier, more weather-appropriate duvet. Not only is this a great option that avoids putting the heating on unnecessarily, but choosing the right tog rating for your duvet will mean your sleep will be as comfortable as possible.

Drinking too many hot drinks  

We all agree that there’s nothing better than enjoying a milky drink or hot chocolate in the wintertime, however, try to avoid highly caffeinated drinks right before bed as these are prone to disrupt our sleep routines. Also, going to bed too hot can cause sleep disruption too, so you should aim to cool down before hitting the hay.

Six Mistakes To Avoid With Your Winter Sleep Routine

Avoiding exercise

Light exercise at least once a day is proven to benefit your sleep. A small amount of exercise, like a short walk in the evening, can work wonders for your shut-eye. Try to avoid spending every evening tucked up under the blankets if you want to wake up feeling refreshed.

Late-night comfort food

Of course, there’s nothing better than enjoying hearty meals in the evening at this time of year, but did you know that eating too many carbs before bed can sometimes have a negative effect on our sleep? Meals filled with lots of carbohydrates are proven to release loads of insulin, which can make us feel sluggish and lead us to wake up feeling even more tired. Comfort food is best enjoyed a few hours before you sleep to prevent any disruptions to your sleep.

With winter upon us, have you got your winter sleep routine sorted? Will you be using any of our tips? Let us know in the comment section below or post to our Facebook page.