Sleep… Oh how I love it. There’s nothing like waking up refreshed and ready to smash your goals! And believe it or not, this is how I roll most mornings… I, Shekira Johnson, who have to-do lists coming out of my ears, a phone that never stops buzzing and ideas for days, have mastered the art of a good night’s sleep.

So many of you tell me that you struggle with catching Zs: going to bed wired, waking up tired. So here are my top tips. I hope they help you as much as they help me! Oh, and of course, I woke up like this… 💁‍♀️

1. Good eatzzz

What I eat and drink plays a massive part in how I sleep. Too much caffeine, sugar and processed food has my blood sugar spiking and me bouncing off the walls! I’ve recently discovered too little magnesium can interfere with your sleep.  You can get magnesium through drinking water and eating foods such as green vegetables, nuts, cereals, meat, fish and fruit. This has been a game changer for me; my sleep is much deeper.

2. All in the routine

Make a little ‘self care’ ritual for yourself so your body knows it’s time to sleep. Mine? I shower, brush my teeth, comb my hair, moisturise, spray on my fave perfume (Velvet Rose and Oud by Jo Malone FYI) and put on fresh PJs. Bliss! Then I run through my to do list for the next day and then put it aside, knowing tomorrow is all in hand.

3. Digital detox

Yeah yeah, you’ve heard this before, but some of us go  to sleep holding our phones or sleeping right next to them (I used to be so guilty of this!). Big no no! Once I realised the blue light was stimulating me, making my brain think it was daytime, and that reading messages quite often got me excited or stressed, I gave myself an hour’s curfew. Oh, and I should mention that I go to bed clutching my rose quartz. It’s my version of a teddy bear. We all have our quirks, right?!

4. Write it out

I always write down at least three good things that have happened to me in the day. There’s always something, if you look for it – a delicious lunch, a sunny day, a catch up with a friend. For example, today mine were:  My PR team came up with amazing ideas/My coffee was good/I got fresh air with a walk around the park in my lunch hour (ok, so it rained, but it was still fresh!).

By doing this, you go to bed on a positive note. And long term – the more you recognise these good things, the more they naturally pop out at you, and the more positive you feel generally. Try it – it works!

5. Unwind your mind

Overthinking. We all do it. It’s what the face slap emoji was invented for. Especially at night! Suddenly you’re thinking ‘What if that email I sent came across as rude? I should send an email to apologise now. No, that will make me look like a weirdo, like I can’t switch off. I CAN’T switch off! WTF is wrong with me?!’ etc etc.

This is where meditation can help. It’s tricky at first but the more you plug away at it, don’t beat yourself up if you lose focus, observe the thoughts and allow them to pass, it gets easier. I’d highly recommend guided meditations – try this one by Stuart Wilde for starters.

And finally, read this beautiful quote from Stuart and let is resonate with you: ‘Life was never meant to be a struggle; just a gentle progression from one point to another, much like walking through a valley on a sunny day.’

Don’t you feel more peaceful already?!

Oh, and once you’ve mastered the sleeping bit, give my tips for a miracle morning a go!

Have you tried my tips? Do they help? Do you have any suggestions for a good night’s sleep? I’d love to hear them! Let me know in the comments. Sharing is caring…