Forget flowers, this is what your mum truly wants (and it’s not chocolate)

• A new survey from thortful.com has revealed the things that mums really want this Mother’s Day. 
• Unsurprisingly, a night of long, uninterrupted sleep was the number one thing mum wants. 
• Sleep expert, Dr Hana Patel comments on the benefits of a good night’s sleep and provides tips to help you get exactly that. 

With Mother’s Day approaching, new research has looked to reveal what mums would really want if they had a day to themselves.

The survey, conducted by thortful.com, asked mums what they would get up to if they had 24 hours to themselves, to reveal what mums really want this Mother’s Day. 

According to the poll, the gift mums want this Mother’s Day above anything else is being able to have a long, uninterrupted sleep, with 45% of mums saying this is what they really need.  

The second most popular activity mums said they’d do was be able to spend some quality time with their partner (41%) and over a quarter (27%) of mums said they’d actually like to find the time to have sex with their partner.  

The 15 most popular activities mums really want this Mother’s Day are:  

1. Have a long, uninterrupted sleep, including a lie-in (45%) 
2. Spend quality time with their partner (41%) 
3. Just sit in peace and quiet (39%) 
4. Have a long bath, with all the home spa essentials (30%) 
5. Have sex with their partner (27%) 
6. Go for a pamper day at a spa (24%) 
7. Go out with friends without worrying about having a hangover (22%) 
8. Turn off the cartoons and watch a TV series they’ve wanted to start for a while (22%) 
9. Go to the hairdressers/manicurist/pedicurist/get a wax (20%) 
10. Read a book (20%) 

Why do mums need a good night’s sleep this Mother’s Day and beyond?

Now we know that sleep is the greatest gift of all this Mother’s Day, thortful spoke to Dr Hana Patel, a resident sleep expert at Time4sleep to explain the benefits of sleep, “By getting a good night’s sleep you can ensure that you have enough energy to tackle the day ahead of you, you’re likely to be in a more positive mood, which will help you enjoy the time with your family. 

Sleep is such an important time for our bodies to repair and replenish themselves. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can lead to differences in visual appearance, such as darker circles under the eyes, paler skin and more pronounced facial lines.” 

It appears there are very clear reasons why they call it ‘beauty sleep’!

Dr Hana Patel provided her top tips on how to get a good night’s sleep:

1. Do some gentle exercises before bed

Struggling to fall asleep? Why not try the 4-7-8 breathing trick. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat 4 times. As well as calming your nervous system, it releases tension through the body. If breathing isn’t working for you, simply walking around the bedroom, house, or up and down the stairs can aid in telling your body that rest is truly needed. Seems counterintuitive – but it honestly works!

2. Get a balanced diet

Keeping a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals is essential for good sleep. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals which can make you uncomfortable and cause indigestion.

3. Limited screen time

Limit your exposure to screens before bed. The blue light emitted by electronic devices can disrupt your sleep cycle. Try to avoid using your phone, tablet or computer at least one hour before bedtime. 

4. Stick to a regular sleep schedule

Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, and keeps it consistent. Your body will learn to release melatonin around the same time each day – making you feel relaxed and ready for sleep. 

5. Create a bedtime routine

A bedtime routine can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. This might include taking a warm bath, reading a book, or practising relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing. Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark and quiet. Invest in a good quality mattress, pillows, and bedding that’s right for you to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. 

Commenting on the findings, thortful say, “Mums go above and beyond for us every day, so we were interested to see what they’d actually want if they had 24 hours to themselves. To help your mum get a good night’s sleep this Mother’s Day, why not buy her relaxing bath products, or even just give her time to have a good old lie-in!”

More results from the survey can be found here: https://www.thortful.com/blog/what-mums-want-for-mothers-day/