How to fake eight hours sleep: Specialist reveals her tips and tricks for looking and feeling well-rested (even if you’ve spent December partying)
- Sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo shared her tips and tricks for faking sleep
- While she said you can’t ‘fake’ eight hours, sleeping on merino wool will help
- Olivia recommends getting out into nature and taking power naps to feel better
With the festive season in full swing, it can be hard to avoid getting rundown and short on sleep.
And while you can’t exactly ‘fake’ eight hours of sleep, sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo said it is possible to feel more well-rested if you adopt a few simple tricks.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the Sydney-based expert explained how merino wool bed sheets and magnesium spray can help you to feel and look better after a month of December parties.
Olivia also shared her tips for getting through the day after a late night.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the Sydney-based expert Olivia Arezzolo (pictured) said that you can’t fake eight hours of sleep, but you can improve how you feel and your productivity the next day
Olivia (pictured) said if you haven’t slept much one night, you should get out in the bright light as soon as possible and have a power nap at some stage during the day
What can you do to offset a night of little sleep?
If you’ve woken up after a big night out and you have to go to work, there are a few things you can do to help yourself feel a little bit better.
‘Expose yourself to bright sunlight as soon as possible,’ Olivia told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It will reduce your production of melatonin, the hormone to make you sleep and promote the production of serotonin, the hormone that helps you to feel more awake.’
Olivia also recommends that you try a power nap at some stage in the day, for 30 minutes but no longer.
‘Research shows that 30 minutes will boost energy and mental focus,’ she said.
‘However, it won’t allow your body to fall into a deeper stage of sleep (slow wave sleep), preventing that post-nap grogginess.’
Olivia (pictured) is a fan of sleeping on merino wool, which she said absorbs heat and moisture and means you are cool while you sleep
How can you fake eight hours of sleep?
While you can’t fake eight hours of sleep, Olivia said there are a couple of things you can do to help you feel better.
‘One of the best things you can do is sleep on merino wool,’ she said.
‘It’s a thermo-regulatory fabric that absorbs heat and moisture, which means you can keep cool while you sleep.’
Olivia (pictured) also uses Salt Lab magnesium spray before she goes to sleep, as it helps to promote muscle recovery
The sleep specialist said one of her favourite brands in Sleep and Beyond – whose bedding is free from VOCs and other carcinogenic chemicals, which can ‘otherwise disrupt your sleep and harm your health’.
Olivia also recommends Salt Lab magnesium spray for anyone who is run down, as it helps to maximise recovery.
‘My favourite strategy is to have a long, warm shower and lather myself in the spray as soon as I get out,’ she said.
‘The spray activates my parasympathetic nervous system, promoting calmness, while my muscles loosen up.’