A good night’s sleep is recommended for the orderly functioning of the mind-body and soul. It is an important part of health and essential for our emotional, mental and physical fitness. Not having enough sleep can impair thinking, make us more accident-prone, and dampen our mood on a day-to-day basis. Sleep deprivation harms performance at work resulting in less productivity and quality. Relationships at home or work are also affected.
“Sleep is important for mental function: alertness, memory consolidation, mood regulation, and physical health,” says Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Stop and ask yourself – are you getting enough sleep? Are you mentally fatigued, tired and feel drained?
If you are feeling constantly negative at work and home, it is time to understand if you are catching up on the right amount of sleep to rejuvenate and refresh yourself for the next day.
Get some good sleep
Getting good sleep helps enhance your mood and boost your mind to prevent health problems. An average adult needs about 7.5 – 8 hrs of sleep every night. Many people can go about the day with 6 hours’ sleep. You have to identify what routine works for you and aim to follow a healthy plan to prevent health problems.
Keep the environment comfortable
Keep television and gadgets at bay during sleep time. Try to avoid any sort of distractions that come in the way of falling asleep easily. Always try to maintain a calm and composed mood before going to bed. Some of the things to look into are to:
- Avoid alcohol of heavy meals three hours before bedtime
- For some exercising before bedtime or a warm bath right before bedtime proves to be a hindrance
- Don’t exercise or take a warm bath right before bed
- Avoid blue light of screens
Work and life balance
Work and relationship problems increase stress levels, which in turn can aggravate sleep problems. Strive to maintain a healthy balance to be able to keep the stress levels reduced. For Eg: plan your day well. Give yourself enough time for tasks. If you are a last-minute person and the adrenaline of achieving great things in less time gives you a rush, hold on. Although in the short term it looks all good and fancy, it comes at a cost to your health, mental anxiety, and affects your physical self in the long run. If you are dealing with stress, this is one point for you to consider.
Spend time doing things that make you happy
After a long day at work sometimes all you want to do is spend some quality time with your kids or pursue a hobby or take some downtime to unwind. Do that. A happy mood and a content heart are de-stressors and accounts for keeping the mind light before bed.
Seek help
If you have any sleep-related issues or any aches and pains, do not refrain from asking for help. Treating your ailments at the right time helps keep you energetic and positive as you look forward to conquering another day head-on at work or home. If your sleep disorder is getting to you, you can contact the experts at Evolve Brain Training for better diagnosis and treatment.
Since many women have a lot to juggle between their homes and at work, they are constantly thinking about everything. As you consider changing your behaviours one of the things to include is effective ways of handling your thoughts.
Check out the resources on my website to learn about the 5 techniques to reduce stress as well as other informative articles on health & wellness that help you look after your well-being despite being part of a challenging business environment.