7 simple ways to drastically improve your sleep

It sounds straight forward enough, but getting a good night's sleep isn't as easy as it sounds.

And while our bad humour and constant yawning may seem like the worst side effect, the reality is that sleep deprivation can lead to depression, diabetes and is associated with some cancers. We've spoken to experts about how to get a perfect night's rest before a big game, but what about doing it on a day-to-day basis? Sure, we've told you that eating more protein or even sleeping in the nip can help improve your sleep, but there's a whole lot more to it than that. We caught up with Geraldine Corr, Nurse Practice Development Manager at Saint John of God Hospital in Dublin, to talk about the practical steps we can undertake to get some meaningful shut eye. [caption id="attachment_48983" align="alignnone" width="850"] via Sherlock/BBC[/caption] According to Corr, although we spend up to one-third of our lives sleeping, we tend to undervalue just how important sleep is to both our physical, and our mental health. "Sleep is vital to our well –being," she says. "It is our body's time to rejuvenate and prepare us for the day ahead. While we sleep, our body focuses on body and brain tissue regeneration, energy conservation and memory reinforcement. If we do not get enough sleep, or have a disturbed sleeping pattern, our body does not have the chance to do these important tasks. "When this happens over a prolonged period of time, the results can be detrimental to our well-being. A good night's sleep is very important to good physical and mental health and yet the demands of modern life shorten more and more the time for sleep." [caption id="attachment_36510" align="alignnone" width="823"] via Friends/NBC[/caption] "Each persons' sleep requirements are different and there is no set rule of thumb as to how much sleep each person needs, however, in general, anything less than six hours per night for an adult would be unadvisable," explains Corr. "Many busy people declare - and indeed often pride themselves on the low amount of sleep they need - often sleeping only four of five hours a night. "This can have a real impact on a person's health and is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity as well as psychological problems such as depression, which can be brought on when our bodies are out of sync with the 24-hour circadian." So how do you make sure you get a good night's sleep? Corr gave us these seven simple steps for getting some proper rest:

Support your internal clock

Stick to a consistent schedule, even on weekends, holidays and days off. This means cutting down on your naps - and avoiding them entirely if possible.

See the light

Spend time outside each day and expose yourself to as much natural light during the day as you can.

Power down

Turn off all appliances late at night – that means no late night Netflix binges or I phones in bed. Invest in blackout blinds or curtains to ensure a dark sleeping space. If you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, keep light at a minimum.

Pay attention to what you eat and drink

Don't go to bed too hungry or full and avoid caffeine and alcohol in the hours before sleep. Nicotine is also a stimulant so try and avoid smoking before bedtime. [caption id="attachment_49938" align="alignnone" width="901"] via Gilmore Girls/Warner Bros[/caption]

Be active

Studies show regular physical activity can promote better sleep. It helps you fall asleep faster, and to enjoy a deeper sleep. If you struggle to fall asleep and get restless, try getting out of bed and doing a non-stimulating activity such as reading. Again, remember to keep lights low and noise down.

Block the clock

Keep any time showing objects out of the bedroom. As long as your alarm is set, there is no need to see the clock ticking away from your bed. It can cause anxiety and stress when we can’t fall asleep and begin to do the maths on how much 'sleep time' we have left.

Visit your GP

Sleep is essential for mental and physical well-being. If you are going without quality sleep for an extended period of time, talk to your GP. Most sleep disturbed patterns are short-term and easily managed when approached head-on.