Well, we are all back at work now which feels like ‘back to the grindstone’ too for most of us. The beginning of the year often brings with it not only the difficulty of getting back into work mode but often added stress because we may have left things until the new year or even just have a lot to catch up on after our well-deserved break.
Unfortunately, one of the worst side effects of worry and stress – and overwork – is poor sleep and we don’t need to tell you how important sleep is for your well-being. If you are suddenly not sleeping well after sleeping like a baby you will feel the physical effects of this sleep deprivation almost immediately.
Of course, it is not just this time of the year that people experience sleep deprivation either – it happens commonly with people that have too much on their minds, those in certain professions, and of course those who suffer from insomnia.
What can we do?
Much has been written about curing these sleep issues in the long term and you’ll find articles about this in the latest blog posts section of our website but we thought it may be useful for you to know at least about just dealing with your day after one of these sleepless nights – so here are 5 ways to beat a bad night’s sleep…
- Use caffeine wisely!
It is well known that coffee or other drinks that contain a fair amount of caffeine will help you to wake up a bit, so you can better handle the day, but a word of caution on this is that caffeine use can trigger anxiety in some people, and an overdose of caffeine (which is very uncommon) can even be life-threatening. Around 400mg of caffeine per day or 4 to 5 cups of coffee, is considered to be an acceptable amount.
- Don’t sugar overload!
In what you eat and drink, be careful not to eat sugary things in the belief that they will give you a boost. This will only lead to an even bigger crash later in the day. Healthy foods like whole grains, fruit, veggies, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, seafood, nuts, and seeds are all known to reduce the severity of chronic fatigue.
- Try to catnap
Talking about that crash later, do try to get your head down later in the day, even for a half hour, as sleep is accumulative and you’ll be amazed at how much better you can feel after a little power nap. This is a good habit to get into even when your sleep pattern is normal as it can refresh the brain when you need a booster for the second half of the day.
- Exercise outdoors
Even though you may not feel up to it some good exercise will help to get your blood flow going. Try to exercise outdoors, if possible, as this is said to be particularly beneficial. As one expert put it ‘’Because of our circadian rhythms, or 24-hour internal clock, sunlight exposure signals to the brain that it’s time to be awake.’’
- A word of caution
As the medicine bottles always say ‘’This can lead to drowsiness so don’t use it if driving or operating heavy machinery’’ so take cognisance of this and try to avoid anything dangerous to your health until you feel that you have fully wakened yourself and are feeling fresh again.
Beat the sleep blues with a better mattress!
Even if you do battle to sleep, a great mattress will always help. Truform has been providing some of the best that money can buy for nearly 40 years and we just get better at it every year!Test a Truform at a store near you and discover the great benefits of sleeping on a better mattress – or contact us directly to talk about your personal preferences – there is bound to be a Truform, tailor-made for you!