There’s a lot to be said about winter. From long nights spent drinking hot chocolates to curling up by the fire with a good book or unleashing your inner child and sledging down a hill in the snow, it can be a lovely time of year. But, brace yourself Britons for a cold and slightly more dreary winter than our Nordic neighbours. Here in the UK, we’re more used to grey skies and drizzly afternoons than white Christmas’. But, winter still happens to be one of our favourite times of the year. It creates the perfect excuse for a bit of ‘winter bulking’, it means we can buy an abundance of candles and nobody questions us, and don’t even get us started on the number of blankets we have dotted around the house, or more recently, hooded blankets. With this in mind, we’ve put together a useful checklist of easy tips and tricks that will help keep you warm and snug on even the chilliest of nights. Keep reading for the cosiest, snuggest night of your life…
1. Wear cosy PJ’s
We all love the freedom of sleeping in our underwear, but for getting cosy in bed pyjamas are essential. Opt for styles made out of natural fibres such as cotton and silk as these will keep you warmer than synthetic materials. Also, if you don’t feel too restricted in them, opt for long-sleeved and trousers for extra warmth.
2. Drink a cup of herbal tea or something milky
Drinking a cup of herbal tea or a milky drink before bed (or even in bed) will not only relax you but also warm you up from within. Just make sure to opt for something without caffeine in it as this will have the opposite effect before bed. Scientists say a hot milky drink can encourage drowsiness. This is due to two key ingredients, calcium and tryptophan, in milk. Scientists believe calcium can help our bodies to relax while tryptophan is converted into serotonin in the body, which is a natural hormone that helps the body get ready for sleep.
3. Change your summer bedding for winter bedding
If you feel cold when you get into bed then it might be time to swap your summer duvet over for a winter one. Opt for a duvet with a higher tog rating, which is a measure of how well the duvet can trap warm air. If you’re used to an 8 or a 10 tog one then swapping this over to a 13 or even a 16 tog one, could make a huge difference to feeling warm and cosy during the night. If you don’t fancy buying a whole new duvet then layering is also a great trick. Add a few extra blankets over your duvet to add layers or warmth.
4. Soak in a hot bath
Nothing warms you up and relaxes you like a hot bath. Soaking in one before going to bed will not only bring your body temperature up but will also relax you. The advantages are twofold, as the warm water works to relax your muscles while the sudden dip in body temperature when you leave the bath helps send you off into a deeper sleep.
5. Invest in an electric blanket
When you hear electric blanket you may think of something your grandmother uses, but trust us when we say; they’re incredible in the winter. If all else fails they are a quick-fire way of warming yourself up quickly when you get into bed. Those who don't like the thought of sleeping with electricity on can opt for an under blanket that warms the bed before you get in, while others can go for an over the blanket that acts like a heated duvet to keep you toasty all through the evening.
6. Use a calming bedtime spray
Aromatherapy has been around for at least 6000 years (!!) so it’s got to be doing something right. Spritzing your pillow with a scent such as lavender before you go to sleep will help to relax you before you drift off. Or, if you don’t like the idea of spaying something on your pillow try a diffuser instead to make your whole room smell like a relaxing oasis.
7. Wear your hooded blanket during the evening
You didn’t think we would write a list without including our favourite way of getting cosy, did you? After your nice hot bath, pop on your Big Cosie hooded blanket and spend the evening wrapped up and cosy. You can even sleep with it on for added cosiness, however, so that it stays like new for longer we recommend taking it off once you get into bed. The added hood and sleeves will make your evening so much cosier than just wrapping yourself in a blanket. Give it a go, we promise you won’t regret it. Now that you have all the essentials for a nice cosy winters nights sleep, have a read of our post Sleep Tips: 6 Steps To A Better Sleep for some practical tips on getting to sleep.
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