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Handcrafted in the UKBeing mindful of your mental health can lead to better sleep
How are you doing?
When was the last time someone asked you that and you told them the truth?
Worries, anxiety, loneliness, on top of another sleepless night, are more common than you might think.
The pandemic hasn’t been kind on our mental health.
But what is the connection between mental health and sleep? Could one improve the other?
Our sleep experts know that a comfy, warm bed with a mattress suited to you is one of the quickest and easiest ways to enhance both your quality of sleep and your mental health. Read on to find out more.
The link between mental health and sleep
Mental health and sleep are very much connected.
Issues with mental health such as anxiety can make it difficult to sleep, whereas depression and seasonal affective disorder may result in oversleeping. Other mental health problems also tend to have an adverse effect on sleep quality by causing nightmares, making it difficult to fall asleep or having side effects such as insomnia.
On the flip side, poor sleep quality can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and low mood, along with making existing issues of mental health worse.
Good sleep is essential for overall health, helping us function effectively in the day-to-day. We have all experienced the immediate effects of a bad night’s sleep – irritability, lack of patience and concentration, not to mention going through the day with that ‘half asleep’ feeling!
As sleep and mental health are so closely tied together, it is important to be mindful of how sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining good mental health.
Improve your sleep – improve your mental health
Did you know medically there are eighty different sleep problems, insomnia being the most common? It is also said people sleep an estimated 90 minutes less nowadays than they did in the 1920s, causing many to be in a constant state of sleep deprivation.
With lack of sleep impacting our physical, emotional and mental health, it is vital to wake up (pun intended) to the issue at hand and start taking steps to better sleep.
There are several simple things you can do to improve your sleep quality. Here are a few examples:
Exercise regularly - Exercise improves our mental health by clearing our minds and helps us to sleep sounder.
A relaxing bedtime routine – Clear the troubles of the day by putting time aside for meditation, breathing exercises, or unwind with a hot bath and some soothing music. Your sleep and your mind also love routine; aim to keep your bedtime consistent.
Mindfulness – Mindfulness is about being aware of your thoughts, feelings and things around you, and rather than pushing negative thoughts away, it is about opening yourself up to them and dealing with them productively.
Mindfulness can help you calm your mind for bed. Exercise such as yoga and tai-chi will help practise mindfulness of breathing and may help in spotting signs of looming anxiety.
Turn off screens – Blue light caused by screens is a bedtime no-no, but it isn’t the only thing that can make falling asleep harder. Work emails, addictive TV programmes, news and social media stimulate the brain and run the risk of raising anxiety levels and negative feelings.
Essential oils – Lavender and sage are two well-known essential oils that help with sleep by relaxing and promoting drowsiness. Studies have also shown the benefits of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety.
Make your bedroom your sanctuary – Declutter the bedroom to keep your mind clutter-free, too! Don’t bring your work laptop to bed but keep your bed a place you associate with sleep and relaxation. A comfortable, supportive mattress and a luxurious bed are a must; Aspire are here to help you with that!
Look after yourself
Mental health problems aren’t to be kept behind closed doors. Now more than ever, people everywhere understand how face masks can hide loneliness and anxiety.
Make sure you look after your overall wellbeing, keep catching enough z’s each night and make mental health a priority.
