In The World of Sleep February 2020

Sleep is a fascinating subject, and one that we humans are forever intrigued by. Research and trends evolve, while our thirst for a good night’s kip never wanes. To keep you up to date with the latest happenings in the world of sleep, we’ve got the latest bitesize news on all things zzz. 

1 Sleep off the stress
Poor sleep can increase emotional stress levels by a third:
Getting a bad night’s sleep can leave you feeling tired and unproductive, but did you know it can have a significant impact on your mental wellbeing? A poor night’s sleep can increase a person’s emotional stress levels by up to a third, reports the Independent, citing a study carried out by the University of California, Berkley. Senior author of the study, professor Matthew Walker sums it up as: “without sleep, it is almost as if the brain is too heavy on the emotional accelerator pedal, without enough brake”.

2 Nodding off is on trend
Power nap pods and yogic sleep are amongst the hottest health and wellness trends of 2020, according to a list compiled by ES Magazine. Although given we all need sleep to function, it might seem odd to say it is on trend, but it is an undeniable fact that the global market for sleep aid continues to grow: in 2019 it was estimated at $76bn.

So, if you fancy a quick nap, a Pop & Rest power nap pod (located in Holborn and Old Street) can be yours from £8 per half an hour. And as for yogic sleep, or ‘yogic nidra’, it’s claimed 45 minutes of the practice is as restorative as four hours, and according to ES is set for a huge revival. 

3 Proven powers of beauty sleep
Study confirms link between sleep and glowing skin:
It’s called beauty sleep for a reason, and researchers have now added extra weight to this with new findings. According to Harper’s Bazaar, a study published in Nature Cell Biology examined how our bodies repair collagen – responsible for our skin’s structure and elasticity-  whilst we sleep. They found sleep to be essential for the replenishment of one variation of collagen that we produce. 

4 Putting your best foot forward
Why sleeping with a foot out of the covers can be a helpful habit:
You’re either okay with having your feet sticking out from under the duvet or you wouldn’t dream of going to sleep with them uncovered. Right? What about one foot out and one covered? Well, an Australian sleep expert claims the latter can be a helpful habit when it comes to regulating body temperature while we snooze. Talking to news.com.au, Dr Carmel Harrington explains: “The soles of the feet help dissipate body heat…our body likes to sleep on a cooling temperature which is why sleeping with one leg out from under the covers can register as enough of a decrease to ensure more restful sleep.” One foot out it is then.