“The innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care.”
This is how William Shakespeare himself described sleep in his tragedy Macbeth. There are very few people in the world who know more about the value of sleep than Macbeth, the great tragic hero plagued by a single malady- insomnia.
While insomnia itself is something that can drain you out physically, have you ever wondered how it can affect your mental health? First things first, the pandemic has been harsh on everyone. According to the statistics provided by John Hopkins Medicine, 1 in every 4 adult US citizens have suffered from mental disorders at some point in theirlives. But you have to consider something else. This study only took into account the number of people who sought professional help for their issues. And you must already know very well that not everyone can overcome the social stigma to ask for help. Not many can afford to go to a therapist either. Keeping these in mind, consider how harsh the COVID-19 pandemic has been on those that already suffer from anxiety, stress, or OCD.
How Exactly Does Sleep Affect Mental Health?
It’s a sort of Catch-22 bind that we get into when we try evaluating the relationship between sleep and mental health. People who suffer from anxiety or stress have a faster heartbeat. The moment the heart rate increases, brain activity does too. The brain starts radiating beta waves which ensure, in turn, that your mind is too agitated to go to sleep. So basically, if you are under stress you cannot sleep. And in turn, if you don’t get enough sleep, you feel even more stressed.
There is a very good reason why sleep deprivation is used as an actual torture method. Not only does it cause physical exhaustion, but it also enhances feelings of depression, irritability, mental fatigue and causes yet more stress. The lack of sleep reduces your cognitive and learning ability. In children and teens, this means an inability to focus on their classes. In adults, this means an inability to concentrate on their work.
The lack of sleep affects your mental health adversely just as your deteriorating mental health prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night or are feeling constantly tired regardless of how you sleep, follow the tips given below.
Tips to Sleep Better:
1. Switch off that Screen
One of the main reasons why you don’t get enough sleep is because it is hard to log out of the social media world. You start scrolling and 2 minutes later you realize that time has flown and it’s 4 am already. Your office hours start from 7 am so at this point there’s no point sleeping, right?
Don’t do that to yourself every single day. Switch off the TV, the laptop, and most importantly keep away that mobile phone. Isolate yourself from everything that stimulates your brain and brings in thoughts of anxiety or stress.
If you are feeling restless, lay down on your spring or organic latex mattress, and prep for sleep. Yes, you need to wind down before falling asleep. Some soothing music or a bath can help.
2. Get Some Exercise
No, you don’t need to completely wear yourself out to fall asleep. But some kind of activity during the day always helps. This is a particularly important step to follow during the pandemic.
You cannot go out at your leisure now. Neither do you have to go to work? This takes away the bulk of the physical activity that your body was normally used to. Even a 30-minute exercise session daily can help tire you out enough to put you to sleep.
3. Invest in Being Comfortable
How well you sleep depends a lot on your bedroom. This is why so many people invest in fancy nightlights, sleep music, or even virtual window projections. But what is the most basic component that you need in a bedroom? A bed. We often overlook the quality of this essential item.
Whether you are using a spring mattress or an organic latex mattress- make sure you are investing in a good one. Organic latex mattresses have a property that allows the latex foam to contour according to your body’s curvature. This makes sure that at every moment, all surfaces of your body are being equally cradled by this delicate organic latex mattress.
Did you know that organic latex mattresses can relieve you of pain as well? If you have back or joint pain, these organic latex mattresses will feel heavenly because of their buoyant support. Healthy Trick Will Increase The Body’s Energy Levels
In Conclusion
You know the usual advice that any therapist will give you for treating your mental health symptoms. Eat well, don’t smoke, work out and sleep. You pretty much have everything else under control but sleep, right? Well, not anymore. With a quality organic latex mattress, you can be sure to have a sleep “that knits up the raveled sleeve of care.”