The Surprising Truth About Evening Routines (And Why They’re Not Fixing Your Sleep)
If you’ve found yourself sticking religiously to an evening routine: no screens after 8pm, a mug of herbal tea, a lavender diffuser gently puffing away beside your bed… you’re not alone. It makes sense. When sleep goes off track, we naturally look for something we can control. We Google. We make lists. We try wind-down […]
Is it insomnia? How to know if you have it
It’s easy to assume insomnia just means “not being able to fall asleep.” But if only it were that simple. After nearly 20 years of working in sleep clinics, including at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Hospital, I’ve seen thousands of people suffering from long-term sleep problems. And if there’s one thing I can tell […]
Why do 90% of insomnia treatments fail?
If you’ve struggled with insomnia, chances are you’ve already tried everything. CBD oil, relaxation apps, magnesium, herbal supplements, sleep sprays, expensive gadgets, even hypnotherapy – you name it. And yet, night after night, sleep remains just as elusive. The reason? You can’t fix a long-term sleep problem with a short-term solution. Most sleep aids are […]
The one piece of advice to cure insomnia
Why Waking Up at the Same Time Every Day Can Transform Your Sleep As a sleep expert, there’s one piece of advice I’d recommend to everyone – whether you’re struggling with insomnia or simply looking to optimise your sleep. It’s simple: wake up at the same time every day. This might seem counterintuitive at first, […]
The number 1 sleep improvement habit
The number 1 sleep improvement habit What’s the single most impactful thing you can do to improve your sleep? This is THE question I get asked in every TV interview, podcast, and company webinar I’m invited to. You’re probably thinking: Not looking at screens after 7 pm No caffeine after 2 pm A meditation or […]
The inner workings of insomnia
The inner workings of insomnia (3-minute read) In the first instance, your insomnia may have been caused by just one thing. A few sleepless nights because of work stress, an illness, menopause… But after a few months, the insomnia transforms into a long-term condition of its own. Now simply getting rid of the initial trigger […]
Don’t talk about sleep
Politics, sex, religion, and sleep… These are the subjects I’ve learned not to discuss in public. The last one is difficult… especially when, like me, you work in sleep. Most of the time, when asked what I do, I might say something along the lines of “I’m a doctor” or “I’m an academic,” because every […]
Resetting the Dysregulated Sleep Program
Resetting your dysregulated sleep program I can still recall Siobhan telling me how her sleep had completely fallen apart: “I’ve lost any control I had over my sleep… I was never a great sleeper, but now things are just unbearable. Even when I am completely exhausted, I’ll wake up in the night. Sometimes just an […]
Take back control: how to stop your insomnia wheel from spinning
Take back control: how to stop your insomnia wheel from spinning you Long-term, persistent insomnia type sleep problems are complex in their workings. But most importantly, they are extremely different in their mechanism, from short-term insomnia, which typically lasts only a few months. Sadly, this is something most people (doctors, media, health influencers etc. included) […]
My insomnia controls my life
My insomnia controls my life When we have chronic illnesses and issues, our go to is to try to compensate and make life easier. And it’s the same with insomnia. What I see a lot of people do is cancel their obligations and only get through the day doing the bare minimum. No going to […]