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According to surveys, one in three of us has difficulty sleeping – with insomnia considered the UK’s most common mental health complaint. While an average night’s sleep hasn’t changed from 50 years (about seven hours), these days we are bombarded with information 24/7, making sleep more fragmented and hard to come by.

If you struggle to get enough sleep, try the following tips for a more harmonious bedtime.

1. Stop worrying

Worrying that you are not getting enough sleep ironically will only stop you from sleeping, creating a vicious cycle. Experts say the notion of needing eight hours sleep is exaggerated and that most of us can happily get by on six hours a night without any knock-on effects. Reducing your anxiety about sleeping enough will help you relax and fall asleep more easily.

2. Establish a...

For many of us, finding the motivation and time to exercise regularly in order to lose weight can be difficult, but there are ways to boost your metabolism without the need to break a sweat.

Below are some unexpected ways to shed the pounds, and they are all simple enough to incorporate into your daily life.

Keep cool

When the human body is faced with cooler temperatures, it has to work harder to keep warm. Therefore, simple tricks such as drinking cold water and keeping your heating down can make a big difference to how many calories you burn. Just by drinking eight glasses of cold water a day you could be burning up to 70 calories, whilst lowering your bedroom temperature to 19C will see you burn 7% more calories while you sleep. That’s...

Last week on 12 March it was National No Smoking Day, a day dedicated to help smokers quit their addiction for good. Since the campaign was introduced in 1983 the proportion of smokers in the UK has dropped from one third to one fifth. Despite this impressive decline, there are still around 10 million smokers in the country, and 100,000 of them die every year from their addiction.

The implications of smoking on health are widely known and include increased risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, blood clots and premature ageing – not to mention bad breath, gum disease and a rapidly emptying bank balance.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) organise No Smoking Day and believe that there are two factors that are essential for successful cessation:

1. that you are ready for the change
2. that you realise you needn’t do it...

Whether you have only just started exercising after years of sedentary habits, or you are a regular at the gym but have reached a plateau – it can do you some good to go back to basics. The following tips should help you fulfil your fitness goals by taking things one step at a time.

Make lifestyle changes slowly

This is especially important if you are at the beginning of your fitness journey. Trying to overhaul your diet and exercise routine too quickly could cause injury and make you feel demotivated. Instead, look to make small changes over time – you’ll be surprised at how quickly they add up.

This tip also helps those who are stuck at a plateau. Pushing yourself too hard to get out of it may make matters worse, so look to change things slowly yet...

A new study from Harvard University has found that people are five times more likely to have a heart attack following an angry outburst. Rage increases blood pressure, our heart rates and the stickiness of blood – factors which can greatly increase the risk of cardiac arrest. 

While many will get angry only rarely, some people will find it difficult to control their rage and will have regular outbursts. If you’re worried this might be you, take a look at our short guide to discover ways of managing your rage to potentially manage your health too.

Count to 10

Rather than losing your rag straight...

While feelings of anxiety are something we all experience every now and then, for some these become excessive and difficult to control.

Panic disorder affects an estimated seven in 1000 people and it occurs when the body experiences a rush of intense psychological and physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, trembling, hyperventilation, and an overwhelming sense of fear and distress.

There are many types of treatment for anxiety and panic attacks, but sufferers will also benefit greatly knowing they have the understanding and support of those close to them. If you have a friend or family member with panic disorder, see below for a helpful guide on how to provide the best means of support.

Listen: When someone is experiencing a panic attack, you mustn’t...

With so much conflicting information about healthy eating, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to addressing your diet. Many of us know how to eat healthily, but become stuck on old habits. Try the following tips to kick-start a healthier attitude towards food:

1. Make realistic goals

Completely overhauling your lifestyle in one fail swoop isn’t realistic. Instead aim to change a few habits at a time and work your way up to the bigger changes. It’s also important not to give up at the first hurdle – if you fall off the wagon – get back on it. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

2. Identify your bad habits

Keep a food diary and note down your emotions and what you’re doing every...