Turn in to get turned on: sleep tips to boost your sex life

06 February 2017 - 14:03 By The Daily Telegraph
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Better quality sleep could make you more amorous, suggests a study from North American Menopause Society.
Better quality sleep could make you more amorous, suggests a study from North American Menopause Society.
Image: iStock

Researchers have discovered a link between sleep and women's sex drives.

The North American Menopause Society studied 93,000 women aged 50 to 79 and found that the better a person is sleeping, the greater their appetite for sex and the more they enjoy it.

Try their tips to help you drift off - and boost your sex life:

ESTABLISH YOUR SLEEP GOAL

We all need varying and unique amounts of sleep [usually between six and nine hours a night]. Note how much sleep you get and how you feel in the morning to pinpoint your optimum rest period.

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SET A ROUTINE

Go to bed at roughly the same time every day, even at weekends.

DON'T EAT BEFORE BED

Your digestive system will be working overtime, disrupting your sleep. On the other hand, don't go to bed hungry.

SWITCH OFF

Avoid screens late at night, especially laptops and tablets. The bright, close light tricks your brain into thinking it is earlier in the day.

RELAX

Avoid stressful situations in the lead-up to bedtime. Establish a calming routine (herbal tea, hot bath, gentle stretches) and stay away from confrontational phone calls, technology, horror movies and paying bills.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DRINK

Caffeine and alcohol affect your quality of sleep. An afternoon coffee could be keeping you awake. Similarly, a glass of wine might send you off to sleep (or make you feel amorous), but the quality of sleep will be poor.

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THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE

Your bedroom should be the right temperature, dark, and your bed, bedding and pillow should be comfortable. This will promote the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness.

HYDRATE

Keep drinking water. Dehydration is the primary cause of ''shallow" sleep, so while you don't want to wake up needing the loo, drink enough fluids to stop yourself waking up thirsty.

SEE A GP

If you have concerns about your sleep, see your GP. Don't suffer in silence.

• This article was originally published in The Times.

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