Sleep is vital

Just like food or water, sleep is a biological necessity for life and health. Research shows that the hours we spend sleeping are incredibly important. During sleep, your body is busy fighting off viruses and other pathogens, operating a waste removal system to clean the brain, looking for cancer cells and getting rid of them, repairing injured tissues, and forming vital memories that are essential for learning. Getting enough sleep can improve mental health, mood, and ability to think and make good decisions. It is important for the functioning of our heart and other organs.

Most adults need 7 or more hours of good quality sleep each day. Some may need even more.

Adequate high-quality sleep is especially important during stressful times. To help you adapt to quickly evolving demands and changes in your personal and work life during the COVID-19 outbreak, the following evidence-based suggestions can help improve your sleep.

Tips to help get better quality sleep

1. Switch technology off when in bed, shinning a screen in your face at night time is sending the wrong signals to your brain when trying to switch off
2. Go to bed to rest not to sleep, take the pressure off by resting in bed and allowing yourself to naturally fall to sleep without forcing it to happen
3. Make the bedroom a relaxing space with a relaxing atmosphere and lighting
4. Read a book
5. Set up a good sleep routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. The body has its own clock so allow it to work by setting a routine

Signs you ain’t sleeping enough

• Your mind is foggy, (forgetfulness)
• Your unhappy (low mood)
• Your struggling with your weight (because you to feel hungry)
• Your workouts feel too hard (low energy)
• Your getting sick a lot (vulnerable to virus’s)

It is extremely important to get enough sleep

If you are showing any signs of the above then try out the tips and see if they can help. A few more tips would be

1. Limit your caffeine intake
2. Be mindful of alcohol consumption
3. Clear your mind (something on your mind before bed right it down and get it out of your head)
4. Regular exercise