As leaves drop, swallows migrate and dormice prepare to hibernate, our focus shifts inward, seeking ways to slow down, rest and restore after summer. Sleep, that eternal elixir of rejuvenation, moves higher up the priority list.
To help you ease towards a blissful night’s slumber, we’ve put together a sleep-themed playlist, featuring some of our favourite podcasts, books and talks to bring on sweet dreams. From the therapeutic benefits of sleep for the skin, to enlightening ideas about what happens when we dream and the soothing sounds of the shipping forecast, read on and feel relaxed.
1. The Sleeping Forecast, from BBC Sounds
An unlikely yet charming blend of soothing classical music with snippets of the rhythmic and poetic Shipping Forecast from Radio 4.
The shipping forecast first began providing nautical weather forecasts via telegraph in 1867 and switched to radio broadcasts in 1925. The list of place names, including Plymouth, Sole, Lundy and Fastnet, follows the map around the UK, warning seafarers of the conditions that could affect their journeys.
The predictable and soothing spoken rhythm, combined with gentle classical music, creates a calming atmosphere to send you into a sea-inspired slumber.
2. Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams, by Matthew Walker
Considered a modern classic in sleep literature, Professor Matthew Walker’s book details the third of our lives we spend asleep, and how sleep impacts our overall health and longevity.
From your immune system to your total body health, sleep is a vital cornerstone of health and wellbeing. Matthew explores 20 years of cutting-edge sleep research to discover what happens when we dream in REM sleep, explains the brain-chemistry effects of caffeine and alcohol and how they can change our sleep patterns, and tries to solve the mystery of why we sleep at all.
3. Why daylight is the secret to great sleep, by Christine Blume
Sleep scientist Christine Blume explains how daylight helps you sleep – something we know well at land&water, with long days outside always proving a relaxing tonic.
The circadian rhythm is the body’s natural sleep-wake mechanism that controls how and when we become tired and eventually fall asleep. It’s a cycle that is hugely influenced by the amount of natural light we're exposed to throughout the day.
Christine’s TED Talk shares tips on how to get more natural light during the day and how to incorporate daylight into your routine.
4. Sleep & Sorcery: Enchanting Bedtime Stories, Rituals, and Spells, by Laurel Hostak-Jones
A look at the mythology and mysticism of sleep, filled with folklore, fantasy, and inspiring ideas for your own sleep rituals.
Sleep & Sorcery first began as a successful podcast and YouTube channel before Laurel collected her stories into a volume of mythical worlds. Taking inspiration from eclectic themes, Laurel's stories enrich your rest, encouraging you to create your own sleep rituals. Laurel wants readers to be as intentional about their sleep as they are with their waking hours, so prepare for pre-bed tales of magic and wonder.
5. Sleep is your superpower, by Matthew Walker
More from Professor Walker, this time exploring how sleep functions as your life-support system and the wonderful things that happen when you sleep, its impact on memory, immunity, and even learning.
According to Walker, “sleep is Mother Nature’s best effort yet at immortality”. His inspiring TED Talk covers all the benefits of sleep and the cautionary tales of what happens to your body and mind when you don’t get enough rest.
6. The Skincare Secrets Doctors DO Want You to Know, by Health Matters
A good night’s sleep is key to your skin’s health, too. When we sleep, our skin’s natural barriers repair, and collagen rebuilds, helping to plump up the skin and increase blood flow.
This podcast, featuring Dr. Saranya Wyles, explores the skincare secrets about cellular renewal, the active ingredients that have a positive effect on your skin, and why beauty sleep might be real after all.
7. The Remarkable Life of the Skin: An Intimate Journey Across Our Largest Organ, by Monty Lyman
We regularly put our largest organ through its paces with sun exposure, harsh weather, heat, and cold winds, and then wonder why it feels dry or sore. Our skin can be a window on our wider health, and, as Dr. Monty Lyman says, it’s a remarkable and multi-layered organ that keeps us safe.
Monty’s book blends story with experience, talks about touch and protection, and will make you think differently about the skin you live in and how to take better care of it.
How a shoreside setting helps you sleep
Whether you’re snoozing under canvas beneath the stars or tucked up inside somewhere more indulgent, there are many benefits to sleeping by the sea. And fresh salt air and clear night skies aren’t the only reasons why. Research shows that people who spend more time by the ocean experience less mental stress, and taking time to pause and recharge helps the mind and body rest.
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The abundance of bright, natural light at the coast can help to regulate your circadian rhythm, meaning you’ll sleep better at night.
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The sound of ocean waves is known to be soothing and acts like white noise, lulling you into a restful sleep.
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When you’ve been out and about exploring the coast, swimming, surfing, or hiking, the combination of fresh air and exercise can help you rest more easily.
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There is often less light pollution at the coastline, meaning dark skies dotted with stars to help you drift off.
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Sea air is beneficial for your lungs and breathing, which can promote a good night’s sleep.
Stay by the waves
Bright, beautiful days are worth getting out of bed for. Enjoy all the benefits of sleeping beside the sea in one of the Iconic Set homes from our friends at Beach Retreats.
Including places to rest your weary head by hidden coves, dramatic clifftops, and rolling ocean views, these retreats have epic vistas and luxurious interiors. There are homes dotted all along the Cornish coastline to host groups of up to 12 people. Each property is in an iconic location with easy access to the sea – offering a rejuvenating blend of activity and relaxation, exhilaration and calm.
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Discover our Sleep Collection – from candles to night serum, bath salts to pulse point oil.
Enjoyed this? Dig into our last playlist, Natural Thinking / 07, which explores some of nature’s most fascinating relationships – and what we humans might learn from them.
