The recent pandemic changed the entire world. Not being able to meet with friends, watch a movie, enjoy live music, and staying at home instead is definitely a sign of weird times.
One particular change the pandemic caused is sleep deprivation.
With most people staying at home, binge-watching movies, playing video games, learning how to cook, becoming obsessed with plants, and more the concept of sleep and sticking to a normal schedule got lost for some people.
Although many experts say that pandemic-induced sleep deprivation will go away once the world gets back to normal, you should probably get ahead and fix your sleeping habits now.
How can sleep deprivation affect your health?
Continuous sleep deprivation can have fatal consequences, such as hypertension, obesity, depression, stroke, diabetes, and risks of getting a heart attack.
Aside from the long-term effects, you might also experience immediate effects from sleep deprivation, such as:
- Excessive daytime sleeping
- Impaired memory
- Stress
- Lack of alertness
The best way to avoid these adverse effects is to try to sleep better. However, it is easier said than done.
Tips to improve sleep
- Stay away from phones and tablets when it’s bedtime
Whether you are scrolling your news feed on social media or watching videos– it’s very easy to lose track of time when you fall into that rabbit hole.
- Avoid eating large meals before sleeping
Eating a big meal can keep you awake longer and might even keep you up all night. But if you are starving, make sure you only eat small portions.
- Time management
If you need to finish something for work or study for a test– you might want to try sticking to a strict schedule and improve the way you manage time.
Things might get back to normal soon, but it is always better to start improving your pandemic-induced sleep deprivation now– it’s for your health.
