The Pandemic is Ruining Our Sleep
COVID-19 hit the world hard earlier this year and our daily habits and routines were thrown off, to say the least. Prioritizing sleep because more than a luxury, but a necessity for self-care and getting through the pandemic.
The Washington Post recently made a bold statement last month that we find it hard to disagree with: the pandemic is ruining our sleep. The coronavirus has caused global devastation, increased stress, isolation and depression - and physicians and researchers are seeing signs it is doing deep damage to people’s sleep.
“Coronasomnia,” as some experts now call it, could prove to have profound public-health ramifications — creating a massive new population of chronic insomniacs grappling with declines in productivity, shorter fuses and increased risks of hypertension, depression and other health problems. - The Washington Post
The pandemic has indeed upset routines and caused more stress than normal. If individuals were having trouble sleeping pre-pandemic, it’s only getting harder now as stress continues to rise, our one sacred sleep spaces become work spaces, and thoughts of what’s to come loom.
If the stress from COVID is getting you up at night, you are not alone. Here are six simple tips you can implement today to help fight Coronasomnia:
Don’t nap excessively. A good 30-minute power nap will boost your memory, cognitive skills, creativity, and energy level. Anything longer (a few hours is not a nap!) will disrupt your circadian rhythm making you sleepier in the long term and preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Exercise. Sleep and athletic performance go hand in hand, but even if you’re not training for a marathon, the benefits are real. Research shows that individuals who workout in the morning have deeper, more restful sleeps at night.
Maintain a regular routine. Many have had their daily lives totally thrown off as a direct result of this pandemic. Some have been laid off, some are adjusting to working from home. Others are now juggling work and family as children’s school schedules are not what they once were. Regardless of how often you may now be at home, maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule, get dressed fully every morning and keep your regular activities scheduled as best you can.
Limit screen time. Your iPhone is messing with your sleep! Too much screen time can lead to insomnia. ‘Nuff said.
Eat well to sleep better. Dietary choices affect more than just energy and sleepiness; they can play a major role in things like weight, cardiovascular health, and blood sugar levels, too. Don’t forget to limit caffeine and alcohol as well. Maintaining a balanced diet of fruit, veggies, protein, complex carbs and healthy fats will keep your blood sugar balanced, promoting a better sleep at night.