Sleep is something we all have to do and have been doing
since the day we graced this earth. So why are so many of us getting it so
wrong? Having never been one to easily
catch a few winks on the train, bus, floor or even worse standing, my fussiness
requires the best support and comfort, not to mention complete darkness and
utter silence.
With the busy lives we all tend to lead in this modern day,
sleep doesn’t appear to be high on anyone’s agendas. But the fact is, it really
should be, the consequences of not getting enough can even be dangerous to one’s
health. I’ve always believed sleep is far more important than most people
think, sacrificing it can be fairly costly as far as productivity is concerned.
It’s time to awaken ourselves the reality that is, sleep is just as important
as keeping fit and eating well. Yes, it plays a role in weight management also.
Why Is sleep so
important?
After many a year of working in a hectic busy work environment
where pressure to perform and succeed is constant, I have witnessed many
workers choosing to power through work despite feeling tired, in order to be
more productive. Studies show that this is a poor choice, at the first stage of
sleepiness, yawning and feeling drowsy, your muscle activity and response timing
have already slowed down. If you’re currently
only achieving five hours sleep a night, you may notice you’re not on the ball
as much as you perhaps used to be. Five
hours sleep a night leaves a person in this ‘sleep
drunk’ state, according to a Harvard
study. Shockingly, something 15% are suffering from. Leaving us in a
position where we are sleeping 20% less than they did 100 years ago, I thought
we were meant to be advancing not slowing down?
Performance really is at the heart of needing to get a
satisfactory night’s sleep. If you are week on week repeating the same pattern
of five hours sleep a night combined with extra late nights in the office, and
still driving home. You must consider what effect that has on yourself and your
driving ability, not forgetting others surrounding you. 1/5 car accidents
involve driver sleepiness, so much so that statistics show when day light
saving hours allow us an extra hour’s sleep, the number of car accidents
decline. Yes, your job is important and so is remaining on top of your workflow
however your own mental and physical well-being is far more superior, never
forget that.
How to take action.
It’s time to apply some actions to your sleeping
pattern. A few small steps will make a
huge difference to your ability to gain a decent night’s sleep. Starting with
your morning routine, if you’re a coffee drinker or be it caffeine in general,
it’s time to cut back. I personally enjoy one coffee a day at around 11am. This
for me works as it’s the most crucial time to perk up and gives me the energy
boost I much need before lunch. If your lunch is well balanced and not too carb
heavy, your energy levels will be sufficient to last the day. Take a walk
outside during lunch, getting as much natural daylight as possible is
essential. Light effects many aspects of your mental well-being, keep yourself
trapped in the dark whole that is your office desk and you’ll have an issue.
When at home is the evenings, perhaps a little light exercise?
Swimming is great for those who aren’t overly keen on sports or training. By
all means relax in front of the television afterwards but I recommend not
immediately before you head to bed. The powerful light coming from the screen psychologically
alerts your brain making it much harder to sleep. Setting a regular bedtime routine really helps
when it comes to adjusting to a new pattern. Your body will eventually start to
unwind due to familiarity.
Invest in quality, luxury
beds and mattresses can alleviate any issues you currently suffer from
regarding sleep. It’s incredibly difficult to advice as to what type of
mattress you should buy, firmness is totally personal, a mattress that I may
describe as firm you could believe to be soft. The fact that so many of us are clueless when
it comes to buying mattress is because we aren’t looking in the right place, or
simply not investing enough time and money. Studies show that a good mattress
will improve not only quality of sleep but physical gains such as posture. I
have previously discussed the importance of bedroom surroundings, bedroom
luxury and comfort has a distinguished effect on your well-being. So to finalise, I can’t stress enough the
importance of implementing these tips into your everyday, whilst also taking
the time to research and invest in a new high quality bed or mattress.
Sources:
Comments
Post a Comment