To help you stay well, we at Suffolk Mind use an ‘organising idea’ that we all have physical and emotional needs and a set of skills and resources that we’re born with to meet those needs. This is referred to as the Emotional Needs & Resources Model. We have 12 physical and emotional needs. Sleep is one of those needs.
We all need the right amount of sleep in a 24 hour period, about eight hours for the average adult and less as we get older. What can we do to get better sleep? Here are some pointers which experts recommend:
- Learn and practice relaxation exercises to help you to go off to sleep more easily.
- Work on addressing unmet emotional needs – so that there is less to worry about!
- Have regular going to bed and getting times – and stick to them.
- Cut down on caffeine in the second half of the day.
- Avoid watching TV or internet surfing in the two hours before we go to bed.
- Avoid using smartphones in bed.
Workplace Wellbeing Trainer, Sue Gray explains how to meet your need for sleep during this current pandemic.
You can also download a helpful graphic with tips and advice on how to meet this need below.

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