Being locked up in our homes because of Covid-19 might have had you thinking that you would have more time to rest and therefore not feel as tired as you usually do, considering the substantial decrease in tasks and commute. Were you surprised to feel the exact opposite? Everything seems slower, more difficult to do, more exhausting and tedious, right?
A large contributing factor to your fatigue is the quality of your sleep.
“But, I’m sleeping more, I shouldn’t be tired.” Yeah. No.
That’s not how it works. Sleeping more doesn’t mean sleeping well. Lori Russell-Chapin, co-director of the Center for Collaborative Brain Research tells us that oversleeping and mid-day naps are counterproductive to your sleeping pattern.
That’s what sleeping should actually be - a pattern. Consistent 7 to 9 hours daily.
Co-author of “Sleep for Success” Robinns explains how staying in bed, restlessly turning from side to side, can actually trigger insomnia.
Your bed subconsciously becomes a place of stress instead of peace. So the best thing for you to do in the morning instead of snoozing your alarm 172643 times and trying to catch some flimsy sleep, is to stand up at the count of 3. You’ll hate it at the start, but give it a few days and you’ll notice how your mood and energy levels will drastically rise.
On another note, there is a close relationship between light exposure and sleep.
Light affects your Circadian Rhythm (your biological clock). If you’re sufficiently exposed to natural light, your sleep pattern will be more or less synchronised with sunrise and sunset.
Being artificially exposed to too much light can affect sleep cycle transitions and subsequently the quality of your sleep. In other words, no phone time before bed. Trust me, you’ll feel better. Resist the temptations and own your physical wellbeing!
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