Top 10: How do you get a good night’s sleep? Readers’ tips for a more restful slumber
- Students share their habits for falling asleep, from doing revision before bed to listening to a YouTube playlist and K-pop group Blackpink’s hit songs
- This week’s question: If you could design a slogan to represent Hong Kong, what would it be?
Catching enough beauty sleep helps with your mood and health. Photo: ShutterstockThis week’s question: If you could design a slogan to represent Hong Kong, what would it be?
To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 11.59pm on February 15. Tell us your name, age and school.
Here are the bedtime routines that our readers swear by ...
Jack Yang Chun-yat, 15, TWGHs Lui Yun Choy Memorial College: Studying Chinese at night. My Chinese teacher regularly gives us pop quizzes, so there is plenty to revise. Revising Chinese is like popping a sleeping pill and taking a shortcut to dreamland.
Suri Chan Tin-wing, 16, Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College: It used to be difficult for me to get a good night’s sleep since I was worried about taking the right books to school the next day. So I came up with a brilliant idea – making a checklist before going to sleep. As I put the books and other items in my school bag, I cross the items off my list. As a result, I am no longer concerned about not being prepared for school, and I sleep soundly now.
What is the last thing that made you cry tears of happiness?
Clara Ho Tin-yan, 17, St Joan of Arc Secondary School: I put random YouTube videos on my playlist before going to bed. The sound of those video clips is like a lullaby to me. It eases my tension and puts me in a good mood. I make sure the playlist stops at a certain time so it won’t wake me up when I am fast asleep.
Charlotte Yung Lok-yiu, 14, Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tian Collage: Stretching, because it relaxes my body and calms me down. While I am stretching, I think about the good things that happened that day and how to be a better person. Stretching is great for stress relief and increases the blood flow to your muscles. It helps me get a good night’s sleep.
Sumbi Tsui Sum-yee, 12, Immaculate Heart of Mary College: Listening to Blackpink helps me relax and puts me in a good mood. My favourites are “Solo”, “Lovesick Girl” and “Whistle”, and I fall asleep while listening to them. It helps that I don’t understand Korean so I don’t have to think too much about the words, which reduces the tension. If I listen to Cantopop or English songs, I would be singing along and it would be hard for me to fall asleep.
Connie To Yan-yi, 13, Christ College: Before I go to bed, my mum and I talk about the interesting things that happened to us that day. Also, if I am worried about something, I’ll ask her for advice. After a chat with my mum, I feel so relaxed that I have no trouble at all falling asleep soon after I lie down on my bed.
Zhou Chin-yu, 13, Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen): I don’t use any gadgets before bedtime. Studies have shown that the blue light emitted by your smartphone is not only bad for your vision, but for your sleep, too. It can increase the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep and affect your concentration during the day. So it’s best to stay away from technology before going to sleep.
Yau Nam-hei, 15, Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College: I make sure to create a restful environment before I turn in for the night. I keep my room cool, dark and quiet so that I can calm myself down and fall asleep quickly, without any kind of disturbance. I also avoid using my phone and look at green plants for five minutes before going to bed. It works like magic.
Phoebus Lai Chun-kit, 14, Pui Kiu College: It’s important to make sure your bed and pillows are comfortable. Also, I usually read a fiction story before going to sleep, which helps me wind down after a tough day at school. Then I pray and then close my eyes and soon, I’m fast asleep.
Leung Yui-yin, 12, Immaculate Heart of Mary College: I like to eat Japanese grapes. It helps me remember my trip to Japan during my childhood, when I first enjoyed the yummy fruit. Sometimes I even have dreams about my holiday and see all the wonderful scenery and delicious food in Japan.