Whether you’ve started a new job or you’re struggling with bedtime routines, sleep matters much more than you might expect.

Setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep takes time and commitment, but the benefits are far-reaching. In fact, going to bed at the same time every night could reduce our risk of disease and promote healthy gut bacteria too.

Establishing a sleep routine is vital to your health and sanity. We’ve outlined a few explanations for this, along with a little bit more detail on just how beneficial good sleep can be.

Why is sleep so important?

Sleep is an essential bodily function. In the sleep state, your body and mind can recharge – and ideally, you should wake up feeling refreshed and energised, ready to face the day. Sleep is necessary for multiple bodily functions, including:

· Memory and cognitive function

· Calorie regulation and metabolic performance

· Enhanced athletic performance

· Reduced risk of heart disease

· Emotional intelligence

Sleep is divided into four stages, which repeat cyclically throughout the night until we wake up. Toddlers and preschool aged children should get around 12 hours of sleep every night, while teenagers and adults should all be aiming for at least 8 hours of sleep.

However, individual requirements vary based on your lifestyle and other factors. Many people believe that there’s one figure to aim for, but that’s not the case. And still, almost one in five people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep.

What are the benefits of maintaining a healthy sleep routine?

Going to bed at the same time every night – and therefore kickstarting a sleep routine – is beneficial for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it helps you to look after your circadian rhythm, which is the way your body and hormones respond to the time of day and levels of daylight. Ideally, your sleep routine should help you to feel bright and alert in the morning and throughout the day, and tired and relaxed as bedtime approaches.

But a sleep routine can boost your health in other ways, helping you to:

· Maintain a healthy bodyweight

· Keep your blood pressure low, protecting your heart

· Boost your immune system, thus fight infections

· Reduce stress

· Avoid the chances of developing insomnia

How to build a better sleep routine

Creating a sleep routine that works is all about discipline.

When you set yourself a regimented plan, you need to adhere to it, or it simply won’t bring the desired effects into your life. But if you’ve tried extensive measures and you’re still struggling to get to sleep, you could speak to your local pharmacist who can advise you on the next steps.

Luckily, there are several ways to approach things besides medication if you need to improve your sleep routine. If you’re only just starting out, you could:

· Decide on a set bedtime

· Put your electronic devices away as you approach bedtime, limiting screen time

· Avoid eating particularly large meals before going to sleep

· Listen to ambient music or relaxing podcasts

· Settle down with a book and soft, warm lighting

Overview

Learning about the benefits of a healthy sleep routine might be easy, but it could take some time to see them manifest in your life. Try to keep patient and don’t hesitate to try new things if one strategy doesn’t seem to be working. And lastly, never underestimate the benefits of spending time outdoors when it comes to restoring your sleep patterns!