logo
The Chase star Darragh Ennis shares 'genius' trick to fall asleep quickly

The Chase star Darragh Ennis shares 'genius' trick to fall asleep quickly

Dublin Live4 days ago
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Altering just one aspect of your bedtime routine could transform your sleep, claims The Chase celebrity Darragh Ennis. Whilst he's best recognised for challenging contestants as The Menace on the ITV quiz programme, Darragh works as a neuroscientist and recently authored a book about the human body called The Body: 10 Things You Should Know.
In a latest clip on his TikTok profile, Darragh outlined why countless people struggle with falling asleep at night, and revealed how to achieve a guaranteed restful night's sleep. And it's super simple to do, as there's just one aspect we need to modify about our pre-sleep habits.
Darragh argued that scrolling through your mobile before bedtime can prevent sleep due to how our minds react to the illumination that phones produce.
He stated: "Did you ever wonder why it is that looking at your phone at night can make it hard to go to sleep? It's all to do with light. Backlit screens emit a lot of light, and we've evolved to be active during the day.
"Our bodies tend to get tired when it's dark outside. Our brain does this by using signals from our eyes about how much light there is, but also what colour light we see. If we take in blue light, a lot of which comes from backlit screens, the production of the hormone melatonin decreases. Melatonin is one of the key things that helps make us sleepy."
Numerous phones and other backlit gadgets now feature blue light filter settings that can activate automatically at specific times of day. These are intended to block blue light and reduce eye strain during evening hours, but according to Darragh, they offer little assistance with sleep quality.
He explained: "The blue light filters and things don't seem to have much impact either. Lots of studies have shown this because [with] other parts of the light spectrum, particularly yellow light, our brain thinks that it is coming from midday sunlight. This also stops us from getting sleepy."
For those battling bedtime insomnia and seeking a straightforward solution, Darragh suggests the simplest approach is to abandon your phone when heading to bed.
He advised: "If you really want to get better sleep, it has been shown that the best thing you can do is not look at a backlit screen at all. If you want to read or anything, it's better to put your phone down and read a book."
How to get a better night's sleep
The NHS' Every Mind Matters programme has outlined various measures that can assist with falling asleep quickly and achieving higher quality rest once you do nod off. Their recommendations include:.
1. Have a good sleep routine
Having a regular routine helps to improve sleep. It's sometimes called sleep hygiene. A good sleep routine should include having a set time to start winding down and going to bed and getting up at fixed times.
2. Relax and try meditation to help you sleep
Avoid electronic devices at least an hour before bed, as mobiles, tablets and computers all throw out blue light that stops sleep. Reading, listening to soft music or a podcast, or sleep meditation can all help if you have trouble sleeping.
3. Try mindfulness for sleep
Anxiety, worry and stress can affect how well we sleep. Luckily, there are things you can do daily to help manage your worries, like talking to someone you trust or writing in a notebook about your concerns.
If you often lie awake worrying, set aside time before bed to make a to-do list for the next day, as this can be a good way to put your mind at rest.
4. Create the right sleep environment
It's generally easier to fall asleep when it's quiet, dark, and cool, although the right sleep environment is personal. So, try different things and see what works for you. You may find that wearing earplugs and putting your phone on silent can help you eliminate distractions and fall asleep faster.
Good curtains or blinds can help to keep a room dark and avoid unwanted light by keeping clocks out of view and phones facing down. Some people also find it helps to play music for sleep, such as ambient sounds like rainfall, gentle music or white noise.
5. Do not force sleep
If you're lying awake, unable to sleep, do not try to force it. If you're tired and enjoying the feeling of resting, then sleep may naturally take over. But if you cannot sleep, get up and sit in a comfy place and do something relaxing, like reading a book or listening to quiet music.
6. Improve sleep through diet and exercise
A good diet and regular physical exercise can help us relax and get better sleep. Avoid eating large meals before bedtime, and try to ditch any caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine before you go to sleep. The general advice is to avoid stimulants 1 to 2 hours before bed.
Regular exercise helps with sleep, but avoid anything too energetic in the 90 minutes before bedtime if you find it stops you from sleeping.
For more information, visit the NHS website.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mum's urgent warning against giving popular summer drink to children under the age of 8 & the reason why is terrifying
Mum's urgent warning against giving popular summer drink to children under the age of 8 & the reason why is terrifying

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Mum's urgent warning against giving popular summer drink to children under the age of 8 & the reason why is terrifying

A MOTHER has issued a stark warning against a popular summer drink kids go crazy for. Sherene, a mum-of-two, took to TikTok to summer holidays. 2 Slushies may seem like a harmless drink to treat kids to on holiday Credit: Getty 2 But one mum has revealed they come with major health risks Credit: tiktok/@shercyrusx The mum, from the UK, was on holiday at the time, and spotted plenty of parents letting their children drink slushies by the pool. But she said there were some serious hidden dangers lurking in the icy drink. She said: "The amount of people I have seen whilst being on holiday, giving their one-year-old and two-year-old slush puppies is beyond me." While the mum picked out the name-brand of the frozen drinks, it wasn't just Slush Puppies that could pose a danger, as any at-home or pre-made frozen slushie drink could be a risk. READ MORE ON PARENTING "Now I know a lot of people are uneducated on it. So I'm going to share a few facts on why I will never give my child or children Slush Puppies, at least until they are 10 years old," she continued. Glycerol is a key ingredient in the drinks as it stops the liquid from freezing solid. But too much glycerol can have dangerous effects on children under 10. At high levels, it can cause Glycerol Intoxication which can cause shock, hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness. Most read in Fabulous Now, most slushies are made with low levels, but vendors may not measure the amount of the liquid properly which could pose a danger, says Sherene. The mum added: "Instead of measuring the correct amount of glycerol in each cup or in each machine, they will just keep topping it up. I bought a dated caravan & turned it into my family's very own second home for £4.5k - now we holiday for just £10 a day "So they never know the exact amount and that can potentially unalive your child. "I would rather my child scream the shop down instead of giving her a Slush Puppy." The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has now updated its guidance to state that slush ice drinks containing glycerol are not suitable for children under seven. Earlier this year, the Members of the food watchdog's board called for the change after reviewing evidence on the risk of glycerol to young children's health. Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol - also called E422 or glycerine on some labels - as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid. The sugar substitute is also found in some other foods, but at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks. "I give my kids a lot of things to make my life easier. Slush puppy will not be one of them. It's just so, so dangerous. It's not worth it," Sherene said. The clip was shared on her TikTok account @ Parents were quick to thank her for the warning in the comments. One person wrote: "I gave my toddler a Slush Puppie I didn't know that they are dangerous. I don't understand why there isn't any awareness on this or age restriction!!! Thank you for sharing." Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer : How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: 'Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. 'Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. ' Another commented: "Why don't they put an age restriction on them?" "Well I don't watch the news and this is the first I have heard about it, thank you for the awareness, we go on holiday next month and it will be a big nope for them to have one now," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "I didn't know this at ALL. I take my kids to the cinema regularly and I always get them a slushie." "Thank you for educating us! Because I was so unaware until last week! Thank you mummaaa,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "I've been a parent for 12 years and I literally never knew this!! I mean a slush puppy is a very rare treat for my children but that's mad!"

TikTok set to launch standalone US app in move towards sale of Stateside operations
TikTok set to launch standalone US app in move towards sale of Stateside operations

Irish Examiner

time12 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

TikTok set to launch standalone US app in move towards sale of Stateside operations

TikTok is preparing to launch a standalone app for US users that is expected to operate on a separate algorithm and data system from its global app, laying the groundwork for a potential sale orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter. Over the past several months, TikTok employees have been working under tight deadlines to build a new, US-specific version of TikTok by transferring and duplicating the application's codebase — including AI models, algorithms, features, and user data — from the global platform, current employees at the company told Reuters, who requested anonymity while discussing private matters. The move could open the door to resolving years of debate over whether the company would share what is considered the crown jewel of the ByteDance-owned short video-sharing platform - the recommendation algorithm powering the Chinese-owned platform, which has been at the centre of the US-China technology standoff. ByteDance and TikTok declined to comment. The initiative, known internally as 'M2", has a September deadline, and could represent the biggest technical break between TikTok's US operations and its international business. The change is expected to impact how 170 million U.S. users access global content and how non-US creators make money on the platform. The new US-only app is designed to function independently, similar to Douyin — the version of TikTok available exclusively in mainland China. Users from outside the US will not find the American version in their app store, sources said. While current content is expected to migrate into the new app, it remains unclear to what degree new content from the global TikTok apps will be integrated into the US version. The new app is expected to use only data from US users to train its recommendation algorithms, further distancing it from TikTok's global systems, sources added. As a result, most users will be recommended content generated within the US. The push to separate TikTok's US app from its global platform has been underway for months, as ByteDance executives prepared various plans to prevent a ban of the app in the US, a move required by recently passed legislation over data security concerns. The future of the app used by nearly half of all Americans has been up in the air since a 2024 law, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, required ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19. Washington officials have said TikTok's ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government, and Beijing could use the app to conduct influence operations against the US and collect data on Americans. After the first deadline and a brief moment of "going dark" in January, TikTok began moving non-US user data out of American data centres run by Oracle, ensuring only US user data remained on servers in the US, paving the way for separating US and international businesses, according to sources. The company has also been working on separating the codebase for its core algorithm since last year, a move first reported by Reuters and denied by the company at the time. Once the split is completed, the core technology and ongoing development will be managed separately from the global TikTok team, although some ByteDance employees could continue supporting TikTok US in an outsourced capacity, one of the sources added. This has raised internal concerns about whether the algorithm for the US will remain as effective in the long run as it is today, when TikTok can leverage ByteDance's global engineering talent and product expertise. The project comes as ByteDance faces continued political pressure in Washington to divest its business. A deal had been in the works this spring to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. If a sale is finalized, the new app is expected to be owned by a joint venture formed by an American investor consortium and ByteDance, which will maintain a minority stake. The consortium, which has emerged as the frontrunner, includes ByteDance's current shareholders Susquehanna International Group (SIG), General Atlantic, KKR, as well as new investors such as Blackstone and Andreessen Horowitz, Reuters previously reported. Oracle is also likely to take a stake. Still, it remains unclear whether Beijing has approved the plan to copy the algorithm or sell TikTok's US operations. During previous negotiations, Chinese authorities expressed strong reluctance to allow the export of TikTok's recommendation algorithm, widely seen as ByteDance's valuable asset and a key driver of its global popularity. In 2020, when the Trump administration first pushed for a sale of TikTok's US business, China updated its export control rules to cover technologies such as recommendation algorithms, effectively giving the government a say over any transfer. At the time, TikTok's management team rejected the plan of hiving off its US operations as detrimental to both users and the global network, according to people with knowledge of the decision. Now, the talks on TikTok's fate are also part of President Trump's broader trade negotiations with China over tariffs, sources said. Mr Trump said last week he would resume talks with China about a TikTok deal. While he said he was "not confident" about Beijing's approval, Trump added, "I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us."

Top 8 hacks to help you sleep peacefully during hot weather — and why you should never take a cold shower
Top 8 hacks to help you sleep peacefully during hot weather — and why you should never take a cold shower

The Irish Sun

time12 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Top 8 hacks to help you sleep peacefully during hot weather — and why you should never take a cold shower

AS the UK swelters through one of the hottest starts to summer on record, with highs of 34°C scorching parts of England, many of us are finding it impossible to get a good night's sleep. And while a 2 Dr Sophie Bostock, a leading sleep specialist revealed why cold showers and baths "are the worst" way to keep cool in hot weather Credit: TIKTOK/THISMORNING Dr Sophie Bostock, a leading sleep specialist, explained the key to nodding off and staying asleep is by managing your body temperature. Appearing on ITV's This Morning, she said: 'Our core temperature naturally drops in the evening, and that dip is what helps trigger sleep. 'But when the air around us is too warm, the body struggles to release heat, making it much harder to drift off. "And even once we're asleep, it tends to be lighter and less refreshing.' Read more on Fabulous She adds that hot nights not only reduce deep sleep, which restores the body, but also cut into 'That's why you often wake up feeling groggy, grumpy, and like you've barely slept.' 1. The "ideal" sleep temperature The ideal temperature for sleep, she says, is somewhere between 15°C and 20°C — just cooler than a typical room. But staying in that range during a heatwave takes a bit of strategy. Most read in Fabulous Older adults and those going through menopause are especially vulnerable to sleep disruption during hot weather. Five ways to keep babies cool in the heat "As we age, the body becomes less efficient at regulating temperature,' says Dr Bostock. 'And anyone experiencing hot flushes or night sweats is likely to find them worse during extreme heat.' Research also suggests that people with 2. Increase airflow To make your bedroom more bearable, airflow is crucial. The expert added: "The goal is to create a breeze. 'If you can, sleep downstairs — heat rises, so ground floor rooms tend to stay cooler. "Keep curtains or blinds closed during the day to block out sunlight, and open windows in the evening to let cooler air in.' 3. Stay hydrated Staying hydrated is also key: 'We cool ourselves through sweating, so drink regularly throughout the day to support that process." 4. No cold showers But whatever you do, avoid plunging into icy water before bed the Doctor said: 'A cold shower gives your body a shock. "Your blood vessels constrict, trapping heat inside instead of releasing it. 'A lukewarm shower is much better. It encourages blood flow to the skin, and as you step out and evaporate, it helps you cool down naturally.' 5. Swap your bedding Swapping out your bedding can also help; ditch heavy duvets and opt for light sheets made from breathable, natural fibres like cotton or linen. 'Separate covers also help regulate individual temperatures if you share a bed,' she adds. 6. Try a homemade air-con unit For extra relief, try using a fan alongside a bowl of ice water to circulate cooler air around the room. Cooling mattress toppers and gel pillow inserts can also make a noticeable difference. How to keep cool in hot weather Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. 'They're designed to absorb heat and prevent it building up around your body.' 7. Chill your forehead A lesser-known trick is cooling the forehead. 'There's early research suggesting that applying coolness to the forehead can reduce brain activity, helping you wind down,' says Dr Bostock. A chilled eye mask or a cold flannel can be surprisingly effective. 8. Descend into darkness And don't forget light. 'To naturally produce melatonin — the hormone that makes us sleepy — you need darkness,' she says. 'Use an eye mask, especially if you're trying to nap during the day.' What about taking naps? Speaking of naps, a short daytime rest can help if you're feeling wiped out — but keep it brief. 'A 20 to 30-minute nap can be refreshing,' she advises. 'Any longer and you risk making it harder to sleep at night.' Above all, try to stay calm if you're struggling to fall asleep. Stressing about it only makes it more difficult. Focus on relaxing your body, keeping cool, and setting the right environment to support your natural sleep cycle. 2 Stock image of a woman struggling to sleep in the heat Credit: GETTY

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store