Apart from the fact that a bad night’s sleep makes you feel pretty rough the next day, why is sleep so important?
One of the most common concerns from the people we work with is that they worry about their lack of sleep. If you feel you don’t sleep enough it can be debilitating and you feel like you’re moving in an ever-decreasing circle of not getting enough.
If you routinely sleep for less than 6 hours a night you are at risk of seriously weakening your immune system. Scientists now believe that a lack of sleep can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, along with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and congestive heart failure. It will also contribute to psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Not great reading we know. However, we also know that there are things you can put in place to help you improve your sleep.
Top tips from bestill for improving your sleep
· Don’t use a screen before you sleep (iPad/phone). A recent study showed that reading from an iPad supressed melatonin (the hormone required for sleep) by up to 50% when compared to reading a printed book.
· Avoid alcohol - alcohol sedates you, but this is not the same as sleep! Your sleep will be fragmented with bursts of wakefulness (you might not notice them!). It also supresses REM sleep, the period of sleep where you dream, and your brain works through its emotional processing.
· Prepare your body for sleep. Create a routine, giving yourself time to wind down. Maybe consider Yoga Nidra or breathing practice.
· If you can’t sleep don’t over think it! Try to enjoy the sensation of resting, if that doesn’t work do something relaxing, get out of bed and do something such as read a book, listening to some calming music, breathing practice and go to bed again when you feel sleepy.
We’ve just touched the surface; the science of sleep is huge and to a certain extent undiscovered. We hope that we may have given you some food for thought.
How can we help?
At bestill our mission is to use our skills and knowledge to help you on your journey to better health and wellbeing.Did you know we also work with businesses to deliver sessions to promote wellbeing in the workplace?Do you work somewhere that could benefit from working with us?We have a series of packages available
Our next bestill day in April is now fully booked but if you would like to join us in June tickets are now available
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