Your guide to super sleep

Do you wake feeling refreshed and ready to greet the day?Here’s how to get the best sleep of your life

Sleep rebuilds us – and high-quality sleep fortifies our immune system, balances hormones, boosts metabolism, increases physical energy and improves brain function. But sleep patterns change as you age.

‘Sleep is an emotional issue,’ says James Wilson aka The Sleep Geek, ‘and, while you often get more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and alcohol as you age, you’ve also weathered the worst of the yo-yo hormonal issues around chaotic sleep, life is stable and you have a consistent bedtime routine, so your sleep may actually improve.’

Even if you’re one of the 50% of Brits with insomnia, there’s good news. ‘Even poor sleepers can improve by getting into the right routine, eating well, exercising mildly and having a relaxing pre-bed routine,’ says James. That means one that is tailored for you. ‘I find that couples are often attracted to their opposite sleep type, so my advice is not to fight your owl or lark tendencies, but to find a rhythm that works for you.’ He also advises not getting anxious when sleep isn’t forthcoming. ‘Get out of bed and re-start your relax routine.’

The science of sleep