As a nation, we’re more sleep deprived than ever. Research from Age UK paints a worrying picture for midlife Britain, with almost half of people in their 50s struggling to sleep, and two in five saying they feel more anxious. “Midlife can be an incredibly busy and stressful time,” says psychotherapist Tasha Bailey .
“We may feel concerned about the future or be dealing with health issues, work demands, family obligations or other responsibilities.” “These all have a part to play in how much stress and anxiety we’re carrying, which naturally interferes with sleep.” Thankfully help is at hand from the UK’s top sleep experts who reveal how to improve slumber in our midlife and beyond.
Garden fans praise John Lewis' 'surprisingly comfortable' and 'well priced' two-seater bench Stress and anxiety can easily disturb sleep ( Image: Getty Images) 1. Breathe slowly Sleep and dream expert Charlie Morley says a simple change in how we breathe can combat anxiety, helping us sleep more easily. “When we’re anxious, breathing becomes shorter and faster.
This puts the body into fight-or-flight mode, activating the release of cortisol and adrenaline, keeping us awake. Most of us breathe so fast during the day that our nervous system is on high alert by the time night falls. This means, however, that changing the way we breathe can change the way we feel – almost instantaneously.
” The secret is to breathe slowly. “Breathing slowly can impact the quality of your sl.
