Get a good night's sleep

13:56 26 October 2010

It's official: sleep makes you smarter. A study carried out by Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania four that sleep enhances your ability to recall recently learned memories, even if you learn something new hours later.

Well that's one reason to get your eight hours of shut eye! Take a look at our top tips on how to get a good night's sleep and you could be waking up cleverer than ever!

1 - Get decorating
Greens and blues are the ideal relaxing bedroom colours, so get painting and you could enjoy a deeper sleep. Lining your curtains can also help, blocking out early morning light that could potentially disturb you.

2 - Comfort is key
Scientists have suggested using a memory foam pillow can help you sleep. The extra support they give reduces breathing difficulties that could interrupt your snooze, to leave you sleeping soundly.

3 - Hands on
Research has found that men with warm hands and feet fall asleep 50 per cent quicker; so grab some socks and gloves and get to bed.

4 - Let it out
Keep a notepad by the side of your bed. If you find that your brain refuses to switch off at night, write down everything going around in your head then you can forget about everything until the morning.

5 - Roll over
Sleeping on your left side could help you get a better night's sleep. Doctors have found that those who sleep on their left experienced fewer sleep-disturbing acid refluxes than people who sleep on their right hand-sides or backs.

6 - Turn it off
Don't watch TV in bed. Exposing your body to bright lights, such as those coming from a television, makes our brains think that we should be up and awake, not the best if you're looking for a good night's sleep.

7 - Cool it down
Turn down your heating. Your body temperature drops as you sleep so turn down your radiator thermostat so you don't overheat, between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius is perfect.