Are you unable to sleep? Here’s a few tips that may help.

First of all, keep regular sleeping hours, says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council, a non-profit organisation that provides good sleep advice.

“A bedtime ritual teaches the brain to become familiar with sleep times and wake times,” she says. “It programmes the brain and internal body clock to get used to a set routine.”

Few people manage to stick to strict bedtime routines due to life’s competing demands, be it work or family duties.  This isn’t much of a problem for most people, but for insomniacs, irregular sleeping hours are disastrous.

Most adults need between six and nine hours of sleep every night. By working out what time you need to wake up, you can set a regular bedtime schedule.
Winding down is a critical stage in preparing for bed.

Relaxing bedtime rituals to try:

• Read a book or magazine by a soft light
• Take a warm bath
• Listen to soft music
• Do some easy stretches
• Wind down with a favorite hobby
• Listen to books on tape
• Make simple preparations for the next day