CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The Internet’s most Googled question relating to sleep is, “How can I fall asleep faster?”, according to new research. 

The study, conducted by sleep experts at Bed Kingdom, analysed the search volume for various terms and queries relating to sleep to determine the most-searched-for sleep question from across the globe. The data looked at the search terms for various sleep queries within the past 12 months. 

1. “How can I fall asleep faster?” – 215,000 monthly global searches.

The analysis revealed that the Internets most Googled question relating to sleep is, “How can I fall asleep faster?”, which receives an average of 215,000 monthly searches worldwide. 

Melatonin is a key to sleep; it is the hormone secreted by the pineal gland, and a lack of melatonin is one likely reason you cannot fall asleep quickly.

Melatonin is affected by an inconsistent sleeping pattern. Waking up and falling asleep at various times can confuse your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock. Your circadian rhythm regulates the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone, so without a consistent sleep-wake cycle, the body will be confused and not know when to release the hormone. You should maintain a regular sleeping pattern, which can help you fall asleep faster at bedtime.  

Melatonin is also affected by light sources, including TVs, phones, and tablets; therefore, you should avoid using these devices before you sleep. A dark room is excellent for melatonin production, as the pineal gland responds to darkness by secreting the hormone.  

Another way to help that can help you fall asleep faster is relaxation techniques such as PMR (progression muscle relaxation). This technique improves sleep and anxiety by focusing on muscles rather than intrusive thoughts. This can be done by closing your eyes, focusing, and tensing then relaxing individual muscles around your body to help you become more relaxed, which can help you fall asleep. 

2. “How much sleep do you need?” – 105,000 monthly global searches.  

The amount of sleep an individual requires depends on their age, health conditions, and previous sleep quality.   

Infants require a minimum of 12-16 hours of sleep daily, including naps. Commonly, newborns will be asleep more than they are awake, as sleep is essential for their development. As a child ages, the hours of sleep they need will decrease; toddlers will need between 11-14 hours of sleep, including naps, and those in nursery, 3–5-year-olds, will need 10-13 hours of sleep. 6–12-year-olds will require 9-12 hours of sleep, and 13–18-year-olds will require 8-10 hours.   

Adults require a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night. The older you become, the more hours of sleep your will need because your sleeping pattern can change. It is common for older adults to sleep more lightly, have trouble falling asleep, or wake up multiple times in the night. 

Pregnant women will require at least 8-10 hours of sleep, which is vital for the baby’s and mother’s health. Those ill with a cold or flu will require at least 7-9 hours of sleep, which can help the body go into repair mode.

3. “What is sleep paralysis?” – 90,900 monthly global searches. 

Sleep paralysis is a condition that occurs when REM sleep is disrupted, typically when one is waking up or falling asleep. It is harmless, and some people will only experience it once or twice in their lifetime. 

Numerous things can happen during sleep paralysis, but the most common thing is the paralysed feeling where you cannot move, speak or even open your eyes.

When you experience sleep paralysis, you may feel frightened, as if someone is in the room with you or something is pushing you down, though these feelings will dissipate within a few minutes.   

It is not clear why sleep paralysis occurs, though it has been linked to insomnia, narcolepsy, PTSD, and disrupted sleeping patterns.  You may be able to prevent this by improving your sleeping habits. Ensure you get at least seven hours of sleep a night, maintain a consistent sleep pattern, and get regular exercise.

4. “Why can’t I sleep?” – 89,900 monthly global searches. 

Though this question is highly subjective, and a doctor should assess those with insomnia, there are a few potential reasons as to why someone can’t sleep.   

One likely reason is stress and anxiety, which can result in poor sleep. Numerous factors can contribute to someone feeling anxious, including work stress or the consumption of caffeine or alcohol. If you are consuming alcohol frequently and interfering with your sleep, this should be reduced or stopped. Any caffeine consumption should not be had later in the day.   

Another reason could be an uncomfortable environment; as aforementioned, the environment you sleep in significantly impacts your sleep quality. If your bed is uncomfortable, it would be worth investing in comfortable bedding and pillows, which can contribute to a whole night of rest.

5. “What is sleep apnoea?” – 80,900 monthly global searches. 

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts while you sleep, and it can be severe if not diagnosed or treated.   

Symptoms include gasping, snorting, choking noises, loud snoring, and waking up often through the night. Those with sleep apnoea may feel tired and have headaches or mood swings during the day.   

If you think you have sleep apnoea, you must see a GP, who will refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests. Sleep apnoea is often treated by a CPAP Machine, where a mask is worn overnight that pumps air into your mouth or nose while you sleep.

Commenting on this study, sleep experts at Bed Kingdom say: “Unfortunately, sleep issues and disorders are becoming more and more common due to people leading more stressful lifestyles. Inadequate sleep over time can increase your risk of chronic health problems such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. Therefore, having a night-time routine and getting adequate sleep every night is essential for leading a healthy lifestyle.” 

Buying a home can be a stressful and overwhelming process — from managing finances, dealing with legal stuff to finding the perfect property.

Sometimes this process gets even more daunting when you deal with estate agents, who focus more on closing a deal rather than finding a suitable match for you.

Estate agents may use some tricks to pressure you into making quick decisions, while you prefer taking more time to consider options.

To help you avoid falling for such tricks, property experts at Land of Rugs have shared seven tricks estate agents use against you when you look or discuss buying a house.

• They don’t tell you the price

This is a common trick estate agents use to create a bidding war among buyers.

This can result in buyers paying a higher price for the property than they would if the estate agent was honest about the price from the start.

• They make you think you’re losing the property

Another trick estate agents use is to urge buyers to act quickly or they run the risk of losing out on the purchase.

This sense of urgency can lead buyers to make impulsive decisions while overlooking important considerations or negotiating better terms.

• They use code words

Estate agents use terms that may convey a different meaning to what is actually meant.

For example, common phrases such as ‘has so much potential’ or ‘needs TLC’ actually mean that the property needs lots of work done.

Observe what words estate agents use and try to uncover if they’re actually trying to hide something.

• They are chatty

Estate agents may talk a lot while you take a look at the property, hoping that you will provide information about your personal life or financial situation.

Buyers should be careful not to disclose too much information, as estate agents may use this to urge you to buy the house.

• They tell you to offer more

Estate agents may tell you to increase your offer, so that you have a better chance to purchase the property and beat other competitors.

It’s important that you stay firm and not succumb to pressure from the estate agent to exceed your budget limit.

• They tell you to skip the property survey

Estate agents often try to convince buyers that there are no issues with the property, so there’s no need to complete the property survey.

This is often the case if the property was listed for quite some time.

It’s important to complete the survey, so that you may be aware of any issues that the property has before you make an offer.

• They try sell you the ‘neighborhood’

Estate agents sometimes use location as an important factor when selling you the house.

While the location may be important, buying a house based only on the appeal of the neighborhood can lead to future regrets.

Make sure to let the estate agent know that your main priority is to find the perfect house first.

Images

Ritchie Valens

The Agent

Erol Ahmed

Douglas Shepherd

Mohd Elle

An icon of innovation, the Mountain Jacket is an undeniable slice of The North Face History. This year, the Mountain Jacket is back in blue and reunited with durable GORE-TEX fabrics for a denim look steeped in history and ready for anything the city or sloops can throw at you.

Designed in the early 1990’s as part of the Expedition System­ – the most technically advanced integrated clothing system of its time, built for unforgiving conditions and designed to enable exploration from the Himalayas to Antarctica. The new iteration line brings back the original design intent of the icon.

A city-ready capsule, the Denim Pack inspires you to weather the storm brought to life through the creative lens of photographer Dominic Zimmermann. Collaborating with The North Face’s Explorer Team snowboarder David Djite – the two have captured a bold yet ethereal catalogue of imagery that illustrates how Denim Pack doesn’t just protect but inspires explorers everywhere to revel in their journey.

This is captured in the London exhibition hosted in the heart of the city at White Rabbit Studios, celebrating the creativity of Dominic and filmmaker Fabian Fuchs for an evening of top local talent, DJ sets and an immersive experience.

Born in the extreme and back for a new chapter, Denim products includes the GORE-TEX Mountain Jacket and Pants, and the Glenclyffe Low shoe.

The collaboration brings together two brands synonymous with British style and craft in a 10-piece capsule collection, uniting Mulberry’s iconic Antony bag and commitment to UK manufacturing, with Paul Smith’s love of stripes and colour. The collaboration reflects the brands’ shared appreciation of heritage style and history of championing the British creative community.

Previewed at Paul Smith’s AW23 men’s show in Paris earlier this year, the collection takes Mulberry’s timeless Antony style as its starting point and, alongside three sizes of the classic design, includes two brand new silhouettes created for the collaboration: the Antony Clip, a mini crossbody bag, and the Antony Tote. First introduced as a men’s everyday bag, with its signature Postman’s Lock hardware and elegantly practical silhouette, the Antony, has become one of Mulberry’s most iconic styles – worn by both men and women, making it the natural choice for the unisex collection, and embodying Paul Smith’s design ethos.

The new Mulberry x Paul Smith collection tells two distinct stories, each championing Paul Smith’s historic and iconic use of stripes while remaining true to Mulberry’s heritage DNA. The first is a classic black heavy grain leather, which features striped webbing straps and a pop colour lining. The second is a smooth calf’s leather with a bold colour-blocking theme, which incorporates Paul Smith’s recently introduced Shadow Stripe motif, created here by embossing leather using a new technique. Elegant and dynamic, the collection represents the very best that contemporary British creativity, traditional craftsmanship, and modern luxury has to offer.

With British craft and heritage at the core of the collaboration, and reflective of both brands’ commitment to sustainability – embodied in Mulberry’s Made to Last ethos and Paul Smith’s ‘Path to Sustainability’ manifesto – each piece in the collection has been produced in the UK at Mulberry’s carbon-neutral Somerset factories, where over half of the brand’s collections are still made. The collaboration is crafted from carbon neutral leather, a commitment across all Mulberry bags since 2022, achieved through offsetting with the World Land Trust and is sourced from tanneries certified to the highest Gold standard by the Leather Working Group for their environmental performance.

Sir Paul says of the collaboration:

“Paul Smith and Mulberry were founded within a year of each other in the 1970s, so you could say our brands grew up and came of age together. I think that’s at least partly why we share such a similar approach to creativity and craft – that and our Britishness. Working together to ensure the collection was created in the UK was something we knew we wanted to do from the beginning, and the results speak for themselves.”

ishga is derived from the Gaelic word for water. To be more specific, in this context,  the pure, clean waters of the Hebridean Islands off the north west coast of Scotland which is home to ishga, and where they sustainably hand harvest the four types of seaweed that are at the heart of their organic skincare range.

Hebridean seaweed contains potent natural antioxidants with properties which transform and protect skin. ishga has developed a process to extract its natural goodness, harnessing an abundance of vitamins and bioactive minerals to create a remarkable range of high performing products that deliver efficacy for all skin types. 

Indulge in the restoring powers of the ocean and allow the marine skincare to connect your mind, body and soul back to nature.

The ocean is at the heart of ishga, and their unique seaweed extract is at the core of their award-winning organic skincare range. Since day one back in 2013, the brand has  been sustainably harvesting the wonder ingredient on the shores of their home of the Isle of Lewis. They allow nature to replenish her stocks by rotating the harvesting locations and most importantly only taking what they need.

They owe the powerful hydrating, firming, healing, and skin protecting formulas to Fucus Serratus Seaweed, Pelvetia Canaliculata Seaweed, Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweed and Fucus Vesiculosis Seaweed; each containing its own unique skin enhancing properties.

When the seaweed extract is combined with high-performing active skincare ingredients, it becomes a transformative must-have ingredient for your skincare regime.

One of the key products within the range which is particularly great for Men is ishga’s Balancing Marine Face Cream. It’s designed to balance and hydrate the skin, regulating excess sebum production it also hydrates, refreshes heals and smooths.

Certified organic and vegan-friendly, Balancing Marine Face Cream features ishga’s potent seaweed extract and Hebridean spring water, which together includes 86 different vitamins and minerals.

Balancing Marine Face Cream’s organic ingredients include Shea Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Vitamin E, Cucumber Extract and Aloe Vera concentrate. These ingredients combine with Hebridean Seaweed and Hebridean natural spring water to soften, repair and moisturise leaving a protective barrier that helps rejuvenate and protect the skin from environmental damage. Ideal for all skin types.

Shea butter and extract of macadamia contain essential fatty acids Omega 6 and 7, which absorb excess sebum while nourishing thirsty skin. Vitamin E plumps, heals and smooths, and fresh citrus peel combats oil and detoxifies the skin.

Sensual, aromatic oils of bergamot, sandalwood and patchouli add a refreshing scent, to lift your spirits and soothe your senses.