Sleeping rules. Not just with the dark season looming, but any season, any day, any time. So we’ve put together some tips to make sure you get enough! 

Words by Sam Haddad

It really is that simple, those seven or eight hours a night spent curled up in la-la land allow your body to regenerate, ensuring you are fully energised and in optimum condition for those action-packed daylight hours. Some of us do find though, that as summer blooms and the winter hibernation vibe ebbs, unbroken, rewarding sleep, can be hard to master. For those of you struggling, here’s some hints to hone your skills as a master of snooze.

* Dine early. Eating dinner at least three hours before bed allows your body plenty of time to digest, leading to a more comfortable sleep.

* Curb the caffeine. It’s not rocket science, but for many insomniacs, cutting out tea and coffee is the simplest cure.

* Clear your mind. Write a to-do list for the following day, better out on a piece of paper then ticking around your brain.

* Throw your telly out the window. Watching TV and surfing the net in bed is a sure fire way to find yourself awake into the wee hours. Leave the screens behind, a good book is a far more effective nightcap.

* Go shred! Surf, ride and run yourself into a satisfying state of exhaustion. Make sure not to do it just before bed as raising your heartbeat stimulates your nervous system, try a sunrise surf or a long day in the mountains for sleep-time jedi powers.

For more information check out Colin Espie’s book Overcoming Insomnia and Sleep Problems