Experts Reveal How Scary Film Watchers Can Sleep Soundly This Halloween
With trick or treating no longer an option for adult Halloween fans, many turn to horror films to celebrate the occasion. However, what is seemingly the perfect way to enjoy Halloween at home affects the nation’s ability to get a good night’s sleep.
The sleep data experts at luxury bed company, Crafted Beds, have discovered that searches for the term ‘How to sleep after watching horror?’ have increased by 278% in October alone. To help, the experts have provided a list of the top five ways you can get a good night’s sleep after watching a horror film this Halloween, especially if you have work the next day and need that shut-eye.
Leave the lights on
While this may sound counterproductive when trying to sleep, it’s best to keep your lights on while watching horror and for a while, even if it’s just a dim light setting or nightlight. Keeping the lights on while watching a horror film will help you keep a firm grip on reality. Horror movies are often set at night and feature many dark, scary scenes, so having the room you’re watching lit up bright can help create a clear divide between the movie and reality.
Keep to your routine
It’s important to remember that everything is normal, and nothing within the horror film will affect your actual life. Continue your night-time routine as usual, whether doing some stretches, showering, or taking the dog for a quick walk before bed. Whatever your regular evening routine is, try your best to stick to it to allow your brain to recognise that everything is normal.
Watch something more light-hearted while doing a calming activity
The oldest trick in the book is to distract yourself with something cheery, and this works a treat, but you can take it one step further by calming yourself down at the same time. Pop on a comfort TV show, maybe an old Friends episode or a classic rom-com film like Bridesmaids, and make yourself a cup of decaffeinated tea. You can also try a quick 2-minute meditation, breathing in through your nose for seven seconds and exhaling for 11 seconds while watching your TV show or film of choice.
Have a chat with someone right before bed
Chat to someone, whether they’re in the house with you or you need to ring someone up, have a conversation about something other than the film and challenge yourself to be an active listener. Take in every word the person you’re conversing with is saying and contribute to the conversation. From celebrity gossip to something that happened at work the other day, make sure you choose a topic you’re invested in, know a lot about, and want to talk about so you fully allow yourself to engage with and enjoy the conversation.
Try a guided meditation
Try guided meditation if you’re struggling to block the film out of your mind. Plenty of quality ones are available for free on YouTube and for a small fee on apps like Headspace and Calm. These meditations involve someone talking you through a calming scenario or situation, allowing you to step outside the day’s worries. This works as a distraction and a method of calming yourself down, so you regain control of your thoughts and fall asleep.
