Why are you not sleeping?
Sleep is so important to our everyday health. We have heard all our lives that 8 hours of sleep is the magic number, give or take an hour or so depending on your age and gender. You may have noticed in the last month that your sleep has changed. There could be a number of different reasons why.
Your daily life has been disturbed
You are used to a routine, and when that is thrown off, your sleep usually suffers. Think about every time you have taken a road trip how different your sleep is, why should it be any different when you can’t leave the house?
You may not be getting as much natural sunlight as you normally do which can throw off the circadian rhythm.
You may be sleeping more because you don’t have a job. When you aren’t waking up at the same time every day, this can severely throw off your focus and natural alertness for everyday activities.
Click Here to Learn About Prioritizing Sleep
Mental illness
You may be experiencing anxiety connected to the fear being thrown around in the media. Try limiting your news intake to once per day from a trusted source. Keep your head level and remember this will eventually pass.
You could also be anxious for family members and friends who are more susceptible to contracting the virus, or your anxiety comes from your new economic situation. Take precautions, budget, and speak with a friend when you feel your anxiety growing.
Depression from isolation is spreading like this virus. These thoughts and fears can often keep your mind engaged at night which can cause insomnia.
Click Here to Learn More About Supporting Mental Health
Excess screen time
Now that you are at home, you might be consuming larger amounts of screen time than you would normally do, with Netflix, zoom calls, online learning, or books online. The excess exposure to screens can harbor your ability to wind down in the evenings and blue light suppresses the melatonin your body produces to sleep.
Click Here to Learn Ways to Limit Phone Use
Stress-related fatigue
Stress causes headaches, digestive issues, and lapses in cognitive function, all of which contribute to poor sleep.
Now that you know some of the causes for poor sleep, take action steps to ensure you are protecting those precious 8 hours a night so that you can be strong and healthy to face whatever comes.
