Struggling to get to sleep? What you must stop doing an hour before bed to sleep better

Leslie Kenny shares methods to enhance sleep quality
GB NEWS
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 17/03/2025

- 16:13

You could be "unintentionally" keeping yourself awake with the nighttime habit

The decisions you make throughout the day can impact how well you sleep every day.

An expert shared how using screens in the evening could be the recipe for a night of unrest.


Cara Shaw, nutritionist at BlueIron, said a collection of healthy habits can impact how well you sleep.

These include when you drink caffeine, your blood sugar levels, your exposure to light and your mineral levels. Exposure to blue light at night can also leave you feeling alert when you are trying to sleep.

Woman sleepless in bedMany Britons find themselves awake during the night GETTY

Cara added: "If you find yourself tossing and turning at night or waking up feeling groggy despite getting enough hours of sleep, your daily habits might be to blame.

"Sleep quality is just as important as quantity, and small lifestyle changes can make a big difference in how refreshed you feel.

"If you scroll on your phone, watch TV, or use a tablet before bed, you may be unintentionally suppressing melatonin production.

"Blue light from screens tricks your brain into thinking it's still daytime, delaying the natural sleep process."

Watching TV or spending time looking at your phone is how many people choose to wind down at night, but the expert advised stopping this at least an hour before you plan to get some shut-eye.

She added various tips that will help you wind down and minimise phone use. Cara continued: "Establish a ‘no screens’ rule at least an hour before bed.

"You can also opt for relaxing pre-bed activities like reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practising deep breathing exercises."

An image of a man using his phone

Blue light in the evening can disrupt sleep

GETTY

If using your phone before bed is unavoidable, the expert said to "use night mode or blue light filters on devices". Alternatively, "blue light-blocking glasses can also help reduce exposure and protect your sleep quality".

This comes as a sleep pro explained how what you wear to bed can "seriously hinder your chances of a deep slumber".

They explained that heat-trapping pyjamas can get in the way of core temperature and shared a warning about overheating in the evenings.