COVID-19 has upended many lives and brought about a sense of uncertainty for many. Whether you’re worried about the health and wellness of your family or are faced with financial difficulties after losing your job, the stresses brought on by this pandemic are real.
Try to keep your sleep routine
If those stresses are causing you to lose sleep, you’re not alone.
Barbra Barnes, a nursing associate professor at Baker College of Cadillac, says many people are tossing and turning at night. The lack of sleep only makes the emotional rollercoaster of COVID-19 worse.
“It can be a really vicious cycle regarding emotions and trying to relax enough to sleep,” Barnes said. “I think the biggest concern with not getting enough rest is those emotional and mental ups and downs and that raises trouble with our rhythm and with that, we are feeling down and some of us are very anxious and it’s a lot worse.”
Her biggest tip is to try to keep your sleep routine.
“If we can, try to mimic the sleep rhythm we had before being in a lockdown state, that is very important,” Barnes said. “We are all a little stressed, anxious and maybe a little depressed, and that’s an understatement. Some days are really hard, some are better.”
Tips to improve your sleep
While keeping a normal schedule is an essential tip, here are others to help you get back to sleep:
- Know how much sleep you need
How much sleep were you getting before COVID-19 struck? You should aim for the same amount. Most adults need between 7-8 hours.
- Turn off electronics
Turn electronics off one hour before bed.
- Get more exercise
It’s not easy to get exercise right now, especially for those in lockdown. Still, make time to take a walk, go for a run, or go through an exercise video at home.
- Don’t nap
Try not to fall asleep during the day.
With these tips, you should be able to redeem a normal night’s sleep.
