Local Life - Wigan - January 2018

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brain responds differently to reading on paper than
it does to reading on a screen. With the latter, the
reading rate tends to be faster, less mindful and
more skimming - sort of multi-task reading - as if
looking at a social media feed. Reading on paper
tends to be more mindful, and we slow down and
read in more detail (neuroscientists call this deep
reading).”
What’s on the menu?
Just as we think about fuelling up in the morning,
with energy-boosting breakfasts and those allimportant
caffeine kicks, if you’re aiming to improve
your sleep, the same theory applies at the end of the
day - in reverse. So tailor what you eat and drink in
the evening, with winding-down in mind. Keeping
stimulating and sugary substances to the first half
of the day is one thing, but it can go beyond that.
“To sleep well, we need to eat foods that help
the brain produce melatonin: a small amount of
carbohydrates with a small amount of protein rich
in tryptophan,” suggests Dr Craig Hudson, founder
of Zenbev.com. “A cheese sandwich will help sleep,
but a big steak dinner will make your sleep worse.
Food for sleep is like everything else; a little in
moderation works well.” A late heavy dinner may
make you feel sleepy, but setting your digestive
system up for a night of overdrive isn’t going to
amount to the best quality slumber. The same goes
for alcohol - yes it may seem to help you drift off,
but booze actually hinders quality sleep. Making a
soothing tea part of your pre-bedtime routine is a
great idea - not only can this be a natural way to
aid sleep, but the simple act of making yourself a
cuppa, and then sitting quietly to sip it, nurtures a
sense of calm and mindfulness.
Embrace bathing rituals
Running yourself a bath is a fantastic way to embrace
self-care, treat yourself to a little luxury, and really
switch from manic ‘day mode’ to relaxed and sleepready
(and it’ll help with dragging yourself away
from those screens, too). Even once a week, a bath
is worthwhile, and alchemist, aromatherapist and
intuitive body worker Michelle Roques-O’Neil,
founder of the ‘balancing and emotionally healing’
THERAPIE product range, says even a 10-minute
bath will make a difference when you don’t have
time for a half-hour soak. Make the ritual even
richer by incorporating some aromatherapy based
products, such as THERAPIE Himalayan Detox Salts
(£38 for 400g, roquesoneil.com), which combine
pink Himalayan salts, geranium, juniper berry
and powdered amethyst. “This is one of our most
popular products,” says Roques-O’Neil. “It’s great for
when you’re really overextended, especially with
digital overload. If you’re very anxious, suffering
from insomnia, you’ve just overdone it. This will help
pull you down to Earth.” Applying a soothing body
oil, or lavender-based moisturiser, can be another
effective step in your snooze-ready self-care ritual,
finishing off with a spritz of lavender pillow spray.
WELLBEING NEWS
85% of over-75s say listening to music
sparks special memories
It’s often said that scent is incredibly powerful
at triggering memories and, according to a new
survey by the Royal Voluntary Service, hearing
music transports many of us back in time too. Nearly
three-quarters of the 500 over-75s quizzed as part
of the charity’s Sing Your Heart Out campaign,
admit they’ve forgotten lots of things - but can still
remember the words of their favourite songs. Many
say music has the power to help them remember
pivotal events from their past, such as the day they
met their partner (14%), a special day (12%) or their
wedding day (8%). Furthermore, 92% agree that
singing along to music lifts their mood, 81% think
it helps keep their mind active, while 63% say it
helps them forget health worries. Presenter Phillip
Schofield, said: “My song is Make Me Smile by Steve
Harley and Cockney Rebel. That’s my childhood in
a song. What seemed like endless summer days,
growing up in Newquay. Playing on the beach,
being late for tea having lost track of time.”