Sleep syncing

I don't think there's anyone in the world likely to argue about the benefits of sleep, but what about sleep syncing? According to Forbes it's one of the top wellness trends this year... but what is it?

What is sleep syncing?

Forbes writes: “Sleep syncing is a wellness trend that is gaining popularity. This involves adjusting your sleep cycle to the rhythms of nature (like the sun or moon) and tuning it with your circadian rhythm. Some studies have shown that sleep syncing can help people fall asleep quicker, as well as reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which are often associated with poor sleep patterns."

That sounds reasonable enough - most of us wake a little earlier naturally in the summer when it's lighter earlier, and perhaps feel the need to go to bed a bit earlier in the middle of winter. So, can you be more intentional about the practice?

How to sync your sleep with the rhythms of nature

Create a sleep routine

The suggestions for helping to get into a pattern of sleep syncing is to start by being intentional about it by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. This helps put your body on a regular sleep cycle so that it becomes more used to waking up and going to sleep at certain times. So, pick times that suit you to wake up and go to bed, and try to stick to them.

Create a bedtime ritual

Next up, create a bedtime routine to help you settle down in the evening. That process helps to tell mind and body to start calming down. You don't need us to tell you that looking at your phone isn't the best idea if you want to nod off. Your bedtime routine really starts a lot earlier however - for example, try not to drink caffeine in the afternoon.

Remove distractions from your bedroom

It's a good idea to remove distractions from your bedroom - read into that - get an old fashioned alarm and maybe leave your phone in the kitchen.

Create a space for sleep

Create a space that's conducive to sleep - for example, keep it cool, try to minimise the clutter, reduce the interference of technology and draw the curtains if there are streetlights outside. That said, if there's the option to enable natural light to come in as the sun rises, that will help you to wake up in the morning more naturally. You can also get lamps that mimic that process - such as Lumie.

Learn more about your sleep cycle

Some people suggest a sleep tracker to help you understand how you're sleeping and therefore look for ways to improve... then again, that means more tech, so that one's up to you!