How many of us can truthfully say that we regularly feel fully rested and refreshed after the last few years we’ve had? Many people often underestimate the importance of sleep to our overall mental health and wellbeing.
It’s important to have sufficient, regular, good quality sleep for our physical and mental health. Short periods of unsettled sleep can often be managed with well-researched tips however, longer periods may require a consult with your GP.
Some Useful Tips
- Short “nana naps” or “chill out times” during the day can help us to refresh our minds and bodies.
- Aim to go to bed at a similar time each night.
- Spend a quiet period immediately prior to turning in to help your body and mind settle.
- A warm bath or shower before bed can help the body to relax and calm down.
- Get to know your body and the effects of alcohol, spicy food and other stimulants too close to your bedtime.
- It is preferable to keep your bedroom as distraction-free zones - no phones, TVs, iPads etc.
- Darkening the room so your body automatically prepares itself for rest can be helpful.
- If listening to music, keep the volume low and the type of music soothing, so you are likely to drift off.
- If you regularly wake up during the night and have difficulty falling back to sleep, remember that it may help to get up, have some water or a decaffeinated tea, sit and quietly breathe, rather than lying in bed tense and frustrated that you are awake. Once you are feeling more soothed and settled return to bed.
It is worth formulating your own list of practical, healthy, accessible, common-sense ways to soothe your body and mind, so you can zero in on and practice what works for you.
Counselling support can help you to identify when stress and anxiety are affecting sleep and how to move forward. Start now and benefit from this free and confidential service.
Call AccessEAP on 1800 818 728 to book a session.