We’re all familiar with the stereotype of the tortured artist – the idea that the more hardships we face, the more our creativity flourishes. Everything from addiction to grief and, yes, even sleeplessness, have been romanticised by the idea that we turn our pain into poetry.

However, there’s danger behind this message. It’s important to remember that, as the vessels for our own creativity, our efforts don’t flourish unless we do. Taking care of ourselves is an essential component of improving our work, and this includes getting a good night’s sleep.

And this doesn’t just relate to creative pursuits like art, writing and music. Creativity appears in every aspect of our lives, from problem-solving to social plans to work meetings.

So if you want to boost your creativity, here’s why you should start by improving your sleep habits.

Sleep and creativity – what the research says

There is plenty of research into the impact of sleep and sleeplessness respectively, with many researchers looking at how sleep impacts various aspects of our day to day lives, including our creativity.

One 2009 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA found that REM sleep could enhance our creativity when compared to non-REM, or non-dreaming, sleep. It was concluded that REM sleep could support us in creative problem solving. As such, missing out on sleep means missing out on dreaming, which can lead to us not displaying as much creativity as we would otherwise.

Moreover, a more recent – and more experimental study – was carried out by the Journal of Sleep Research. Researchers gave participants a creative task to complete in the evening, covertly filling the room with a certain scent while the task was carried out. Overnight, some participants had the same scent pumped into the room while they slept.

It was found that those who slept with the scent present performed better on creative tasks the next day, suggesting that they were able to practice their creative problem solving during their sleep.

In 2017, a research review published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences cemented this theory, looking at historical dream records and modern laboratory research to conclude that dreams were essential for creative problem solving.

Why is sleep so important for creativity?

Alongside nutrition and fitness, sleep is one of the most important pillars of our overall health, wellbeing and function. It supports both our physical and mental health, and in doing so improves our ability to make connections and solve problems – both of which are essential for fuelling the creative process. Concentration, mood management, memory and more are all supported by a good night’s sleep.

So prioritising healthy sleep is essential not just to your creativity, but to your health overall. Set yourself a strict sleep-wake cycle that you can stick to every day, giving yourself enough time to enjoy the 7-9 hours of high quality sleep recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. You should also keep your bedroom cool and dark, and free from smartphones and other tech. In the run up to bedtime, consider reading, having a bath or meditating rather than scrolling through social media. This will help your brain wind down effectively and get the rest it needs to be creative the next day.

The best sleep happens on a high-quality mattress, so check out the Perks range today. You can also explore the rest of our blog for more sleep news and tips.

The post Here’s why sleep is essential for creativity appeared first on Mammoth Perks.

The phrase ‘sleep like a baby’ is often used to reflect a good night’s sleep, and for good reason. Parents do everything they can to ensure their children get a good night’s sleep, but when it comes to their own sleep habits, things can fall by the wayside. By treating our own sleep routines with the same care we do our little ones’, we can all enjoy better sleep overall.

With that in mind, here are five ways sleeping like a baby can help you, well, sleep like a baby. Let’s take a look.

Give yourself a curfew

Kids often moan about being forced to go to bed at a certain time every night, but this routine is something we should also be applying to your own sleep schedule. Having a set bedtime will help your body learn when it’s time to wind down, and when it’s time to wake up. When we go to bed at dramatically different times every night, it’s difficult for our bodies to adapt, leading to sleepless nights and exhausting days. Setting a strict schedule for yourself is a vital factor in improving how you sleep, and how long. Aim for the 7-9 hours recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.

Have a warm bath

A warm, gentle bath is a staple of any child’s bedtime routine, and should be part of yours too. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a bath before bedtime is a great way to wind down, while also stimulating blood flow to the hands and feet and helping your muscles relax. Making this part of the lead-up to bedtime will help you physically and mentally prepare for high quality sleep.

Create a calm environment

Keeping things calm and quiet is essential if you want your little ones to nod off without any fuss, and this shouldn’t be any different when it comes to your bedtime. Keeping your bedroom cool, dark and quiet helps to create the optimum atmosphere for sleep, while excess light can interfere with your body’s natural production of melatonin – often referred to as ‘the sleep hormone’.

Investing in blackout blinds can help to keep sunlight out of your room – a great investment, especially as the weather gets warmer and the mornings get lighter.

Read a bedtime story

Too many of us use our phones right up until the moment our heads hit the pillow – and often after! Not only do phone screens disrupt melatonin release with their brightness, but social media can also leave you feeling wired and anxious as you attempt to fall asleep. Swapping out scrolling for reading is a great way to feel more relaxed as you drift off, just as a bedtime story helps our children make their way to the land of nod.

No ‘sweets’ before bed

Watching what you eat and drink before bed is another important step in improving your sleep quality. You wouldn’t let your little ones raid the sweetie drawer before bed, so don’t let yourself have that extra coffee or snack as bedtime approaches. Sleep Education reports that consuming coffee as much as six hours before bed can impact your sleep quality, especially in older adults, as it takes their bodies longer to process caffeine.

The best sleep happens on a high-quality mattress, so check out the Perks range today. You can also explore the rest of our blog for more sleep news and tips.

The post “I slept like a baby” – how a child’s sleep routine could be the key to better sleep appeared first on Mammoth Perks.