Coronavirus second wave: How does sleep affect mental health?

Are you also feeling overwhelmed with the number of cases rising each day, near and dear ones getting affected? Stress and anxiety have become very common in coronavirus second wave. Certain precautions such as social distancing, staying home are important to reduce the outburst. However, such restrictions can lead to a higher level of stress and anxiety. Learning to cope up with stress in a very healthy way is extremely necessary to become resilient and strong during such unprecedented times. It’s no secret that sleep plays an important role in good physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation can leave you feeling irritable and exhausted in the short term, but it can also have serious long-term health consequences as well. Lack of sleep is linked to a number of unfavourable health consequences including heart disease, diabetes type-2, and depression. There are some factors that affect the amount of sleep one should have per day.

• Increased stress and anxiety
• An uptick in screen time
• Lack of exercise
• Increase in the use of tobacco and alcohol
  
  Here are some ways tips which will help you sleep tighter and maintain mental health better-
• Maintain a regular sleep cycle- Even if you’re working remotely, do not ruin your daily sleep-wake cycle
• Turn off screens at least an hour before hitting the bed- Consuming negative news and numbers constantly before bed can affect your sleep.
• Create a peaceful environment around you- A cool, dark place is best for sleeping, good habits will help you restore your sleep.
• Follow a relaxing night routine- You should unwind at least before 20 min. of sleeping, writing a journal can be a good choice for unwinding.

These steps will help you doze off better. We know that it is normal to feel stressed, grieved, anxious and worried in such times. There are some ways can help you manage your stress.

Some healthy ways to cope with mental health in COVID

There are some ways that will help you both cope up with mental health in COVID.

Little breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news

These include social media also, it is good to be informed however being informed about the outspread consistently can make you upset mentally. It is advised to limit the consumption of news. You can practice this on weekends for a couple of weeks a couple of times. Disconnecting from screens can make a difference.  

Take care of your body

You can follow all these steps to take care of your body-

• Take deep breaths, stretch, or Practice breathing exercises, stretching and meditation can help you to a large extent
• You should eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Sleep is extremely important, get plenty of it.
• Workout regularly
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco, and substance abuse.

Try to make time to unwind

Try to do some activities you enjoy such as painting, dancing, etc.

Connect with others

Try and talk with people and have a friend to whom you can share whatever you’re feeling.

These tips can help you slumber peacefully; also they will keep you sane most of the time. However, sleeplessness can lead to some severe sleep disorders. Book a home sleep test and get informed about the quality of your sleep.