How to feel better rested - without going to bed earlier

We all know that sleep is the cornerstone of good health. But for many of us, getting enough of it can feel like a constant battle. The most obvious solution might be, “go to bed earlier”, but life doesn’t always make it so simple and, even if you do get to bed earlier, a busy mind that wakes you up at 2am can easily eat into precious rest time.

The good news is that sleep quality is often more important than the quantity, says Dr Steve Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health. “Sleep is not just about how long you spend in bed, it’s about how restorative that sleep is,” he says.

“During high-quality sleep, your brain cycles through essential stages, including deep slow-wave sleep and REM sleep, that support memory, toxin clearance, emotional regulation and cognitive fun