Quality sleep helps mental health
“Tired minds don't plan well. Sleep first, plan later.” —Walter Reisch
Ilove to sleep. I can spend my entire day off just by sleeping, especially when I am extremely exhausted. But, some say it’s a waste of time.
Why do I have to sleep an entire day when there are many places to visit and activities to do? Why sleep when I can meet with friends or family members? And how can a person even sleep for more than eight hours a day?
I guess sleeping a lot is just a part of who I am. This is how I recuperate.
While some people tend to enjoy their personal time going out, I prefer to lounge on my bed. Some replenish their energies by socializing (hello extroverts!), while I replenish mine through snoozing.
Just last week, our dog wasn’t feeling well. I had to get up several times during the wee hours (between 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) because I could hear her whine and wanting to go out… and this happened every 15 minutes. I couldn’t really sleep then until I decided to just stay in the basement, opened the door to the backyard and let her come and go as she pleased. I was able to get a few hours of sleep until it was time to wake up for work.
However, it wasn’t a good sleep since the sofa bed is placed right in front of the door and the wind was blowing cold between five to nine degrees Celsius, definitely colder than Tagaytay or Baguio.
I really felt extreme moodiness from the lack of sleep. I was so grumpy that I had to exercise a great deal of control not to snap at the dog or my patient the following morning. I also had trouble finishing my writing projects because my mind couldn’t think coherently.
Truth be told, there are nights when I can’t sleep at all due to insomnia. Most nights I also have to sleep late way past midnight and wake up early at around 7:00 a.m. for work. This is like my usual routine and it’s not good for me. That is why I always make a point to get my afternoon nap or ensure that I sleep in on my days off to replenish my energy.
Some may say I overreact when it’s about sleep. To that, I might agree. But, science also agrees with me when it comes to the importance of quality sleep.
Getting quality sleep helps in easing stress and reduces the risks of depression and anxiety. When you get a night of good sleep, you are more focused during the day and you can think coherently and clearly. Sleep also helps prevent heart disease and cancer while strengthening one’s immune system. Moreover, drowsiness can cause major accidents. Thus, ensuring you are fully awake and alert is a must. You can only stay conscious and attentive when you have slept well.
A lot of people always have difficulty sleeping at night. Insomnia is a common occurrence that many of us fail to address. There are natural ways to help you sleep such as de-caffeinating. But, of course, who can resist a cup of coffee during the day, right? Well, you can still drink coffee but make sure to avoid any caffeinated drinks and foods six to eight hours before your bedtime. Setting a regular bedtime will also help your body clock. The consistency will allow the body to adapt and be familiar with its resting period to regain lost energy.
De-stressing also helps a lot. As much as possible, do not bring any of your worries to bed. Save it for the next day. Take a warm bath or listen to soothing music.
Make your bed a place of rest, and not a place of work.
Get enough quality sleep for a better mind and for a better you./
Some may say I overreact when it’s about sleep. To that, I might agree. But, science also agrees with me when it comes to the importance of quality sleep.