Are you finding it hard to wind down every night after the stresses of managing a business?
Sleep posture expert, James Leinhardt, shares his top five sleep tips for budding entrepreneurs who carry the weight of the company on their shoulders.
James is the founder of leading pillow and mattress brand, Levitex, whose core focus is to make sure that the time you spend asleep is optimised and allows you to wake up rested and pain-free. This handy guide will explore how.
Optimise your sleep posture
Arguably, the most important step in ensuring good sleep quality is to focus on your posture when going to sleep. Not only is this beneficial for uninterrupted and refreshing sleep but is also crucial for aiding the relief of any aches and pains.
There’s a direct, linear relationship between having a neutral resting spine and the speed of our recovery. It may seem like a simple step to take, but one many of us forget to consider and nurture, especially when our mind is otherwise occupied with a million different thoughts.
Take some time to evaluate your current sleep position and how this can be corrected. Any benefits to your sleep posture through the night will ultimately benefit your wellbeing and performance through the day, leaving you open to seize the day!
Travel with your pillow companion
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your perfect sleep surface when you’re on the move. As an entrepreneur, travelling may be expected, but dropping your sleep routine shouldn’t have to come as an expense to that.
Take your pillow with you wherever you travel and optimise your sleep posture wherever you are. We all know the struggle of trying to sleep in an unfamiliar location, the first few nights are always a nightmare.
Don’t put your neck and spine through the ringer for the sake of ‘making do’ with the pillows the hotel has on offer. We don’t all wear the same clothes size so we shouldn’t be expected to sleep with the same pillows, our bodies have individual needs which should be catered for.
Listen to your body
Our bodies work overtime daily to make sure we’re at our prime, but this doesn’t come without a toll. Listening to our bodies will help us understand when we need to take a break, or we could face physical exertion.
Never overlook the power of a strategic and a well-timed nap throughout the day – this could be all you need to reinvigorate you to achieve the best you can. Sometimes taking small steps such as this can bring in the greatest benefits. This is especially true when you optimise your sleep posture, and are therefore upping your sleep quality.
Over anything, your health and wellbeing should be at the forefront, so make sure you nurture your body and attend to its needs, focusing specifically on the impact this has throughout the night.
Understand your sleep cycle
It’s well-known that there’s a certain time frame we’re expected to sleep between to ensure our sleep is optimised and we wake up fighting fit to take on the day – but sometimes this isn’t necessarily the case.
Sleep cycles can fluctuate from one person to another and understanding what works the best for you is the key to unlocking a restful night’s sleep. Some of us are early birds and some may be night owls, finding and considering this balance is important so we can listen to which works for our lifestyles, as well as our bodies.
Transition from work mode into home mode
It may be easier said than done but leaving your work at the door can mean a less stressful home environment. Try a few techniques (there’s no one size fits all) for transitioning out of work mode and into home mode, which could prove even more challenging if you predominantly work from home.
As a nation, we’ve had to become accustomed to the working from home life so how do we know where to draw the line of work and pleasure? Consider where you work in your home, distance yourself from any ‘down time’ spots or where you go to relax, or your mind could begin to associate this with a tense area of your home.
Taking the time to transition out of work mode and giving yourself breathing space to reflect on the day will help your muscles and body relax into a more welcoming environment for sleep to whisk you away.
