Tending to her three-month baby, Lilibet, and two-year-old Archie, Meghan must make the most of her shuteye when she can. Thankfully, old habits die hard, and Prince Harry’s wife has three very healthy ones that she can fall back on. “Yoga is my thing,” Meghan told Best Health. “There are so many benefits that come with the practice of yoga.” The Duchess of Sussex then listed all the great things that stretching your limbs can do for you.
“That’s all part of the investment. It’s a balance,” Meghan added.
Meghan Markle’s top three tips on how to fall asleep
- Practise yoga
- Avoid caffeine after 4pm
- Unwind before bedtime.
Her tips mirror ones put forward by the Sleep Foundation who give expert advice on sleep hygiene.
Medically reviewed (and approved) by Dr Nilong Vyas, sleep hygiene is touted as “one of the most straightforward ways that you can set yourself up for better sleep”.
Good sleep hygiene consists of:
- Keeping a stable sleep schedule
- Making your bed comfortable
- Following a relaxing pre-bed routine (akin to Meghan’s tip)
- Building health habits.
Sleep hygiene
It is very powerful when you can set a fixed wake-up time, which can be helped by going to bed around the same time every night.
Avoiding naps is also a good idea, unless they are relatively short and are limited to the early afternoon.
When it comes to a bedtime, following a consistent routine can be very helpful.
This can include putting on your pyjamas, brushing your teeth, and spending at least 30 minutes for winding down.
Whatever you choose to do in this period of time needs to put you in a state of calm, such as doing some light stretching, akin to yoga.
It will also help to dim the lights during this period, as bright lights can hinder the production of melatonin – a hormone that promotes sleep.
This is also why it is useful to stay away from electronic devices while in bed.