Your Sleep Has Never Been More Important… So Why Aren’t You Getting Enough?

Sleep can be wonderful but it can also be a nightmare when it doesn’t like you. With warmer nights and the current anxiety around coronavirus, are you finding it easier or harder to get to sleep? Here’s a collaborative post with a few things to consider if you want a peaceful night’s sleep.

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Even the darkest and gloomiest clouds can have silver linings, and even circumstances that are shocking and horrible can bring about positive outcomes. Sometimes it takes a change of perspective to see them. For instance, one potential positive is that it’s making us think more about the things we took for granted, things like our homes, our friends, our families, our work and, of course, our health. We’re thinking about our health more than ever, and appreciating the virtue in vigilance. However, there’s more to good health than eating well and working out. 

Good health means taking care of yourself, and that starts before you even open your eyes in the morning. Getting a restful night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. While you’re asleep your body does all the essential repairs and maintenance that are necessary to keep you in good health, while also ensuring that your immune system is as robust as it can be. 

So, if you haven’t been getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night, you owe it to yourself to find out why…

You’re Too Hot

In these stiflingly hot summer nights, it can be hard to nod off as you get sweaty and tangled in the sheets. If that’s the case, it could be time to invest in a fan for your bedroom, or try taking a hot bath an hour before you turn in. This will actually reduce your core temperature and make it easy for you to drift off comfortably at night. 

Your Anxieties Are Keeping You Up At Night

Those with diagnosed anxiety know all too well what damage it can have on your mental and physical health, and these are extremely anxious times for many of us. We’re worried about money, about our vulnerable loved ones and the turbulent state of the world we live in. It’s completely understandable that your worries and anxieties may keep you up at night… but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to do anything about them. 

Try mindfulness meditation, exercise every day even if it’s just a brisk walk, write down what’s on your mind, talk to a friend or professional. Consider any other options available to you for calming anxiety, too, like essential oils and CBD oil. Try to get a handle on the options for alleviating stress so that you have some tools at your disposal. By taking a little control in the small things, you may feel a little less anxious and more able to compartmentalise your anxieties to prevent them from keeping you awake at night.

You’re Not Eating Well

Did you know that your diet plays a huge part in your ability to sleep at night? The body struggles to assimilate highly processed refined carbohydrates and they can result in a spike in blood sugar that it can be hard to come down from. Load up on wholefoods, especially fresh vegetables and you may be surprised by how much more readily sleep comes to you.

A balanced diet is always recommended, but of course everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another. It’s worth keeping track of how foods affect you and what works best for you.

You’re Disturbed By Deviced

Your phone and tablet connect you to a never ending stream of data, which often compounds and exacerbates anxieties. What’s more, the blue light they emit can inhibit the body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. Try to keep electronic devices out of your room and have a period of time before bed where you’re device-free to get your mind and body ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Of course this is only a tiny list of ways in which you may be struggling with sleep. Much as there are numerous causes, there are numerous things you could try to improve the quality of your sleep, which is often a case of trial and error.

Does the warmer weather hinder your sleep? Are you finding coronavirus-related concerns are disturbing your slumber?

[ This is a collaborative post & as such the ideas expressed here are that of the author ]