Happy Festival of Sleep Day to you!
Designed to help us catch up on some much-needed sleep, Festival of Sleep Day is celebrated each year on the 3rd January – conveniently placed after one too many late nights during the festive period.
Not only does the day give us an extra excuse for a catnap on the sofa, but it also stands as a stark reminder of just how vital sleep is in allowing us to function at our best.
Now, as some of you will know, sleep is a little more elusive for some of us than others! Whether you suffer from a sleep condition or have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sleep is that one thing you never quite feel like you’ve had enough of.
To remind ourselves of the importance of sleep, let’s look at how a lack of it can impact our day-to-day lives:
The Consequences of Lack of Sleep
Picture this.
You’ve had a restless night. You’ve tried and failed to nod off multiple times. You’ve gotten up feeling like matchsticks might be necessary to keep your eyes open. You almost put your cup of tea in the fridge instead of the milk. You start the drive to work on autopilot.
Will you see the child fly out from behind that parked car? Will you stop in time?
The consequences of sleep deprivation are frightening. While you may think a bit of drowsiness and being less alert might just mean you’re a bit slower in the mornings, lack of sleep increases the risk of accidents significantly.
When you’re suffering from chronic sleep conditions like insomnia, sleep apnoea or other conditions that affect your sleep cycle, like chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndrome, these consequences become a genuine and frequent concern.
Not only that, but sleep deprivation can also impact day-to-day aspects of your life, like your mood, memory, and energy levels.
If you have a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis, you’ll know that sleepiness massively differs from the feeling of fatigue, but even then, sleep (or lack of it!) can impact your condition if not managed. It may reduce energy levels further and mean it takes you longer to recover after energy exertion.
Sleep is slippery, and it can be hard to get a grip of if you’re struggling with a condition that affects your ability to rest effectively, but there are a few things you can do to help.
Managing Sleep
Trying a few of the following techniques could see improved levels of restful sleep:
- Trying out CBD products designed to encourage sleep
- Maintaining a strict bedtime routine
- Minimising stimulating distractions before bed (put that phone down!)
- Ensuring you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (yes, that includes weekends!) to allow your body to adapt to a new cycle
- Always budgeting your time to allow for enough sleep each night
Managing Sleep with Rolling with the Glen
Losing sleep can feel incredibly frustrating, and you may start to feel concerned that it’s impacting your life overall.
If you’re struggling with sleep and would like to chat about methods for managing sleep deprivation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.