Believe it or not, the biggest mistake people make when trying to improve their sleep, is trying too hard.

From intense bedtime routines to buying all the gadgets and gizmos, the issue is that putting too much effort into your sleep will, unfortunately, make it worse.

Why? Because when we focus too hard on our sleep, we become extra vigilant. This triggers our fight or flight – designed to keep us safe by getting us ready to fight. Unfortunately, this level of adrenalin means we don’t get good, quality sleep, as our mind is racing and our blood pumping, neither of which is conducive to a good night’s sleep.

So, what can you do?

Start by becoming aware of how much you think about sleep and how many routines and rituals you do to try and improve your sleep. Once you are aware, you can decide if these things work and if you even enjoy them. A healthy sleep routine doesn’t need to be long - it just needs to be associated with sleep. So if you have a long wind-down routine and are still awake at the end then this routine is part of the problem.

Remember, all you need to sleep well is a healthy sleep ‘appetite’, a body clock which is set correctly and a good relationship with your bed. Sounds too simple right? Not really. We make sleep far too complicated, but when we strip it back, we are all born knowing how to sleep, we just need to reinforce when and for how long.

So, go to bed later and wake early to develop a stronger sleep drive. In addition, leave the room if you can't sleep to keep a healthy association between sleep and your bed. Finally, manage your anxiety by writing things down and learning how to challenge or let go of worries.

Once we have these patterns in place sleep will become easy and the vigilance will reduce.

In short, the trick is simply to think like a good sleeper! So, reframe those negative thoughts and stop putting so much pressure on yourself.

For more tips on how to improve your sleep without trying too hard, why not join my free sleep webinar?